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Re: ♡ Come dine with me? ♡ (Closed)
Posted: 09 Jun 2015, 22:47
by Lorelai
The chopping ceased, the knife still in her hands, as Shiro questioned her relationship with Levi. Young. Was it young? Was it even a relationship? She couldn't pinpoint the day it began, though she was painfully aware that it had almost ended when she'd told him that she loved him. She believed they were dating, even if Levi didn't or wouldn't agree. They saw each other daily. They were affectionate with one another; even if the affection was somewhat stronger on her side. She wasn't interested in seeing anyone else and had even given up pursuing her sire. Though she honestly couldn't tell if what she'd felt for Prudence was actually real or not. The woman was amazing but then her mind wouldn't let her think otherwise. With Levi it was different. She didn't have to feel any particular way about him. She was free to be herself when he was around.
Swallowing a little harder than was necessary for the situation she looked over at the helpful stranger.
"I don't mind questions, Shiro. Questions are how we learn. I only wish I had an answer for you. You see... I'm not entirely sure what it is that he and I share. I know how I feel," she said a soft blush rising in her cheeks. "He's just...," she sighed almost wistfully, her brow wrinkling a little as she exhaled, "complicated."
She resumed her preparations in silence, thinking over the question and how it possibly should have been easier to answer. No matter how many times Levi had told her that she couldn't possibly love him as she didn't know him, she couldn't help but think otherwise. The heart knows what it knows and she knew how she felt. She knew how much happier she was just to have him with her. She didn't care what they did either; she could be as content curling up with him on the sofa as she was if she could lure him into the bedroom.
Her mind was filled with him when she heard the key in the lock. He hadn't even pushed the door open before she had set the knife she was using aside and was wiping her hands on a tea towel.
His entrance was not what she expected however and she paused, looking between the two men that seemed to know one another. It had been a chance encounter and yet it now seemed that chance had little to do with and that the universe had perhaps decided to step in to bring this situation about.
Negative energy wasn't something the blonde enjoyed and the atmosphere now seemed thick with it. All she could hope was that it would quickly be dispelled. After all, Levi had every right to be in her home. He was as welcome here as if the place were his own. And Shiro, well he had been nothing but kind to her. He was a pleasant companion, polite and helpful. She was happy to have him standing in her kitchen.
The somewhat timid blonde crossed the open space, taking one of Levi's hands in her own before pushing herself up onto her toes so that she could kiss him on the cheek. It didn't matter to her even if he didn't respond, it was just something she had to do and something she hoped would help to calm him. Keeping her hands wrapped around his, she looked to his face, wanting to see his umber eyes even if they might be filled with anger and confusion.
"I met Shiro on the road when my bag broke. He came to my rescue," she said glancing over her shoulder at the male, gratitude shining in her eyes. "He picked up what I could no longer carry and helped me bring everything home. And then he stayed to help me prepare a dinner for you. For us."
She wanted to ask how they knew one another. That would have in fact of been a smart thing to ask. Smarter still it might have been to cower behind her lover as the last people she met that knew him were less than hospitable and standing with your back to someone that might want you dead was never a good idea. But Lorelai was way too trusting for such thoughts. That, and Shiro had been in her home for a while and had had ample opportunity to harm her already. She had to believe that if the man wanted her dead, she would have dispersed into ash long before Levi had appeared.
Re: ♡ Come dine with me? ♡ (Closed)
Posted: 10 Jun 2015, 11:16
by Levi DAmico
As Lorelai came over, encroaching on his personal space and forcing the kind of physical contact he really didn’t want at that point, Levi did everything he could not to respond on instinct and push her aside. He hadn’t replied to the kiss – he barely even looked at her – and as soon as he could, Levi slipped his hand free of Lorelai’s. Regardless of how things were, how they’d come to be here together, Levi felt pissed at Shiro and looked at the shorter man like he was anticipating a fight. He couldn’t blame Shiro for anything that Fate was throwing their way tonight, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t find some way to justify it. Shiro too was on edge, though the more disciplined man was better at not showing it. Maybe because Levi was obvious with his rage and Shiro just wanted to be prepared for the fall out or maybe because Shiro had his own reasons for being pissed and wanting a fight, Shiro stood rigid at the counter, hand gripping the knife with intent, obsidian eyes dark, vicious and challenging.
Levi kept his focus on Shiro even as Lorelai began to talk, but her words were almost lost on him; bouncing off his skin like hail when standing before a hurricane. He should have been less selfish and thought what it was like for her to be standing in the middle of this standoff. After all, Levi had kept his life hidden from her and the last time it came knocking on her door she was hauled off to a warehouse and threatened. Shiro wouldn’t threaten Lorelai directly like Gino’s goons had done, but that didn’t mean that Shiro wasn’t dangerous in his own way. Of all the people in this fucked up little world, no one knew Levi better than the tempestuous shark. Shiro was smart enough to manipulate people in more subtle ways, which was exactly why Levi never wanted them to be standing against one another. He wanted to punch the ****** in the face, but he knew, realistically, he should be grovelling.
“I thought you said your plane was delayed,” Levi growled at Shiro, trying to bypass whatever the shark might be scheming if he was left to think this long.
“Well obviously I lied about that,” Shiro growled back. “Kind of like how you lie, you know, about everything?”
“I don’t lie about everything. I just don’t see why you gotta know every little ******* detail of my life, you crazy ********.”
Obsidian eyes narrowed.
Umber eyes narrowed.
But just when it seemed that the hurricane was about to wreak havoc and blow their world to ****, Shiro sighed despondently and put the knife back on the counter. He addressed Lorelai and bowed his head – an apology – and kept it down for a long moment. Levi quirked a brow.
“Forgive me, Lorelai,” he began, standing up to look her in the eye again. “If we were ever to meet, I wouldn’t have wanted it to go this way.”
Levi didn’t like the tone of the other man’s voice, nor the flicker of those eyes his way when Shiro pressed on that one word in particular. Anxiety crept up Levi’s insides to sit like an elephant on his stomach; a cigarette would have really been nice around about now.
“Allow me to introduce myself again,” Shiro said with a gentle smile. “I’m Shirosame Hiroumi, a friend of Levi’s. We know each other through work. I guess you could say I’m… something of a consultant for him, as well as his most trusted account manager.”
Levi appreciated the other man’s subtlety, but then, he expected nothing less. Shiro knew better than to blurt out anything about what they really were, the same way that Lorelai and Levi knew better than to blurt out that they were Vampiri. There were lies – which Levi considered to be more like veiled truths – on both sides then, which made it strangely easier to bear knowing that Lorelai was at least involved in one of them. He never thought he would explain to Lorelai exactly what he was, but if it should ever come to that, he hoped she could understand why he’d had to not tell her about it in the first place. Keeping these kinds of secrets was invaluable to their continued business because if the authorities knew anything specific, they’d hunt that sniff of evidence right down to the root and everyone would be fucked. You never knew who was trustworthy enough to keep their mouths shut, so it was always better to not share the secret. Having to clean up a leak was always harder than not letting that leak happen in the first place, after all. Shiro might have lost a little respect and trust in Levi for keeping Lorelai from him, but Shiro was professional and self-serving enough to still keep with the secrets that protected him also.
Re: ♡ Come dine with me? ♡ (Closed)
Posted: 18 Jun 2015, 17:37
by Lorelai
The softest of sighs came from Lorelai's lips as Lei retrieved his hand, freeing himself of her. She looked between the two men as a small frown began to mark her brow. She did so hate negative energies and the room had suddenly thickened with them, causing her to feel as if she were choking. A delicate hand lifted to her throat as she swallowed uncomfortably.
When the men began to speak, Lorelai looked between them trying to understand the obvious hostility. She couldn't understand why Shiro would lie about when his plane came in and she couldn't understand why Shiro would justify his behaviour by throwing accusations at Levi.
He isn't a liar.
Lie of omission.
That's not the same.
Yeah, well to some people it is.
But I knew he had secrets. Has secrets. Isn't that normal? Why would Shiro need to know everything?
As if reading her mind, as Lorelai was still yet to discern the relationship between the two men, Shiro spoke up and addressed her. His words didn't relieve the tension in the room but they did bring a smile to the blonde's lips.
"Oh my stars." The hand that had clutched at her throat loosened and dropped to her side. "Well isn't that wonderful."
She ran her hand over Levi's arm as if to placate him before crossing the room to stand before Shiro. They had been unable to make proper introductions earlier in the evening due to the fact that they both had their hands full, so she was almost grateful for the opportunity to present itself again; even if the room was still threatening to suffocate her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Shiro. My name is Lorelai Lee."
She offered the man her right hand to shake as a soft blush fell across her cheeks. She couldn't introduce herself as Levi's girlfriend and friend hardly seemed an appropriate title in her mind. Not that she really needed to explain her relationship to the man, Shiro already knew how she felt and how Levi had her confused as to what was really going on between them.
You shouldn't have told him about Levi.
It's a little late now for that advice.
Not really. Live and learn Lorelai. Live and learn.
The blonde was obviously happy to meet Levi's friend/consultant. Her enthusiasm showed in the sparkle of her eyes. Lorelai always sought to see the best in people and as it turned out, the stranger in her home was a close friend of the man she had feelings for. If she'd liked him before, which she did, she liked the man even more now.
Re: ♡ Come dine with me? ♡ (Closed)
Posted: 19 Jun 2015, 11:38
by Levi DAmico
Surprise must have taken Shiro by the balls because he stared at Lorelai for a full two seconds before smiling and shaking her hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”
Levi stopped his angry frowning to frown curiously instead, watching the shark act like none of this was fucked up in anyway. Truth be told, it made Levi nervous and he couldn’t escape the strange picture in his head that his mistress was meeting his wife. If this thought wasn’t weird enough on its own, the fact that it came from a sober mind made Levi’s blood run a little colder. A wave of nausea came over him and he paced about the room looking for a distraction of any kind. He was desperate. He wanted a drink, something to make the hours run quicker, something to make this night go away because he just didn’t want to deal with it. The shark would be relentless, asking questions that made Levi uncomfortable, and not merely because he had to lie his way out of them yet again with the slim chance that Shiro would buy the **** he would be shovelling. It never really occurred to the Italian that Lorelai might ask questions about Shiro, but even if she did, the questions she could ask wouldn’t be nearly as difficult to deal with.
Lying about his true nature, his business and livelihood was something he was used to doing, something he’d done on a daily basis since he was around 13 years old. Lying about all this Vampiri stuff was both completely new and strenuously difficult to fabricate some logical explanation to. Levi wasn’t a gangster, he was a business man. That lie was simple enough and he’d built up a backstory as concrete and dependable as The Pantheon of Rome; over 2,000 years old and still holding strong. How could he explain his strange new attitude though? He didn’t eat, he wasn’t available in daylight hours and he only went back to his home town when his life depended on it. The Family understood Levi had always been distant and aloof, and they’d always been wary and suspicious of him. They had every right to suspect him too; he was stealing right from under their noses with the assistance of his ‘account manager’. He could do a lot worse than steal from them as well. With his supernatural abilities, he could probably make them disappear – all 250 of them. That card was not even close to being in play, however; only in extreme circumstance and if the need ever rose to make himself disappear, would Levi play that card. At any rate, if he was going to disappear, it would take a lot more blood than those of the Boston Mafia to make it happen. Umber eyes passed back to the shark on that thought.
“Well, I suppose I should let you two get on with your night,” Shiro said wistfully, his focus shifting to Levi ever so briefly. The Japanese man took a step away from Lorelai and to the door even, but he was soon back on his heels to address her. “Though, in saying that.” And Levi tensed. “I rather doubt Levi is going to be gracious enough to appreciate your effort. He’s a carnivore as it is and… well… I haven’t seen him actually eat anything in months. I’m wondering if it’s finally happened, that he has found a way to actually live off booze, cigarettes and rage.”
Shiro sneered at Levi then and Levi glared in return. While boys will be boys, pick fights with one another and challenge pride, Shiro had a habit of taking things too far. It was just as well though because Levi was exactly the same. He would have a comeback for the long-haired pansy soon enough, but first he had to take a glance at Lorelai; wondering what she might be thinking. The last time she’d met one of Levi’s ‘friends’, the tension had grabbed her by the throat. Things were different between him and Shiro than they were with him and Gino, so while Shiro could be tart and make things difficult, he was also perfectly capable of being sensitive to a situation and accommodating. Levi figured that Shiro was testing the waters somewhat with Lorelai, seeing how she might take their sparring because, frankly, now that the cat was out of the bag, Shiro wasn’t about to have that feline concealed again. He was making himself apart of this relationship whether Levi liked it or not.
Re: ♡ Come dine with me? ♡ (Closed)
Posted: 28 Aug 2015, 23:36
by Lorelai
--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Lorelai:
Lorelai had a dilemma. Did she stop the Japanese man from leaving now only to force him out of the door later once the meal was ready to serve? Thankfully what he said next allowed her to set that question aside for now, as she felt a need to defend Levi. “So long as Levi tries a little of each course I’ll be happy. I had already planned to take what we didn’t eat to a shelter.” She turned her attention to Levi as she spoke, offering him a sweet smile that probably showed that she was all too happy to indulge him in his lack of appetite.
Levi:
Shiro might have found it funny; his delicate cheek bones disappeared under plump, rosy cheeks as he smiled; but Levi was nowhere near amused. Being nice put him under the wrong kind of pressure, where the lying and the effort felt different and tasted sour to the usual. Levi didn’t like lying to Lorelai to make her feel better, but telling her the truth tasted worse. He suppressed most of his sigh and let Shiro take the stage on talking – you know, because Shiro had much more skill in that area than the Italian did.
“That’s awfully kind of you,” Shiro said, still smiling. “I suppose I shouldn’t leave and let you cook alone then. Not if it’s for those people at the shelter.”
Levi might not have been able to speak, but he was easily capable of rolling his eyes.
Lorelai:
Lorelai grinned and went back to the kitchen counter and continued with her prep work. If Shiro wanted to stay and help, she’d be happy to have him working at her side, as she doubted that Levi would wish to do it. Not that she would have allowed him to help unless he absolutely insisted, as this was something she wanted to do for him. “I’d be more than happy for your help,” she said with a slight nod to Shiro. “You are quite skilled in the kitchen.” Having given him a compliment, she looked over to Levi. “Levi? Would you like me to make you something to drink?” She knew that he knew where the alcohol was kept and it wasn’t like she could offer him blood, so she hoped he’d understand what kind of drink he was being offered.
Levi:
Levi understood the math of it: Shiro, Lorelai, himself and the addition of sharp objects would only result in disaster. If Shiro was going to insist on staying here, and staying here to cook no less, then Levi was going to sit on the couch and watch. As he was on his way to sit down, he heard Lorelai ask him a question. Umber eyes rolled in his skull, not that she could see, and he just shook his head when he was seated. He realised quickly that Shiro’s eyes were on him like a hawk, this satisfied and smug expression making his face look strangely phantom. Levi frowned at him.
“What?” he growled at the Japanese man.
Shiro shrugged his shoulders, then turned to Lorelai to resume his duties in the kitchen. “Right, now… where were we…” he mumbled as he surveyed the counter then picked up the knife again. “Oh yes, I was slicing the mushrooms wasn’t I.” Shiro passed her a smile as he continued to work.
Levi watched them both with a frown.
Lorelai:
Lorelai hummed to herself having noted the shake of Levi’s head denoting that he didn’t require anything. He rarely did, but then she always had to ask as it was in her nature to do so. She wanted to make Levi happy and she thought that the only way to do that was to be as hospitable as possible. She would wait until Shiro was done with his current task before she made the same offer to him. In fact as she continued to work, Lorelai went into her own little world, ignoring the men in her apartment as she happily lost herself in the task at hand.
Levi:
The silence was apparently deafening because it didn’t take too long before the shark was flapping his gums again.
“So,” Shiro began, looking up from what he was doing. He was both skilled and arrogant, so he didn’t need to watch when he was slicing the mushrooms into perfectly symmetrical slithers. “I don’t think either one of you have told me how you met.”
Umber eyes tensed and Levi pressed his back into the couch as if he was anchoring himself to the spot. Since Shiro was asking Lorelai predominantly – or so Levi figured by the way that Shiro had his back to the Italian – Levi looked across to Lorelai. If she didn’t want to tell some story about the way they met, then Levi was willing, all she had to do was hesitate and he’d jump in.
Lying didn’t seem to be something Lorelai was particularly comfortable with, so, it was better to leave it to a seasoned professional.
Lorelai:
Lorelai was lost in her own thoughts and barely heard the question being asked of them. Of course when Levi did not reply, she figured that it had been aimed at her. The blonde looked up at Levi, smiling before she found her voice. “Our meeting was purely by chance. A lot like our meeting tonight. He picked me up on the street.” Lorelai wasn’t sure if Levi would want her to recount the details of the story and she could hardly tell the male that they had bonded over the fact that they were both vampires. “Levi was kind enough to walk me home.”
Levi:
At the otherwise innocuous telling of their meeting on the streets, Shiro’s eyebrow flickered. Levi quickly spat the man a glare, but even though Shiro didn’t see it, that little threat seemed to provoke the right reaction. Shiro simmered down, sucking in his lips briefly as though just wetting them. Obsidian eyes looked back to the mushrooms, slicing the final few before he dared to comment.
“Oh, I see,” he said with a straight tone and a straight face. “Well, wasn’t that nice of him. Not at all like the first time we met.”
Lorelai:
“Oh but it was. You both stopped to help me,” Lorelai practically sang out. She wasn’t ashamed to admit that she needed help on occasion as it was only natural for her to give and receive help as and when it was needed. “Perhaps you would like to join Levi while I continue to put the meal together,” she gestured to the sofa, knife in hand. “Would you like something to drink? The choices are limited to what Levi drinks, but seeing as you are both friends, I am hopeful that that means you have similar tastes.”
Levi:
At first the Japanese man blinked in astonishment as Lorelai spoke. It wasn’t immediately apparent to him how their communications were connected, but when he deciphered the link – the mistake that she thought that he was talking about how they had met rather than what Shiro had meant to say – Shiro simply bowed his head and said nothing more.
Levi, meanwhile, was pretty sure he understood what Shiro was getting at and he breathed a sigh of relief now that Lorelai had unintentionally pulled the rug out from under the smug, sushi-eating ******. He knew that Shiro would like nothing less than to tell Lorelai just how much of a prick her boyfriend was. After all, the first time he’d met Shiro he’d called him so many names, trash-talked and insulted the other man’s reputation.
It only stopped when Shiro cracked, and as did Levi’s nose.
“No, I don’t really drink,” Shiro said, warmly dismissing her offer. “But thank you.”
Levi smirked.
Shiro passed him a look; eyebrow cocked. “Excuse me?”
“You don’t drink… that’s funny.”
“I said I don’t really drink. You don’t ever listen, do you…”
“I try not to listen to you. I swear my ears will bleed one day.”
“Charming,” Shiro growled, rolling his eyes and turning away from Levi.
Lorelai:
Lorelai excused the banter between the men as just that. She knew that harsh words didn’t always mean that people hated one another and that it sometimes meant that they were simply that comfortable in one another’s company. And the men were friends. Not that Lorelai would ever treat another human being, or other, in that manner. She was far too sweet for that. Her inner self however listened, intrigued by the back and forth. There was some serious tension between the pair and she wanted to know what it was all about. “If you two wish to discuss business while I continue in the kitchen I would be happy to find my ear plugs.” It was a strange offer to make to be sure, but that was Lorelai. She knew Levi didn’t like to talk about his work with her about but she didn’t have to listen and if it was needed, she was more than happy to distract herself. Not that the earplugs would do much to disable her vampiric hearing. The rest of the noise she would have to block out by busying her mind with mundane tasks on the internet.
Levi:
It was easier to ignore the snipes and quips when Shiro was keeping himself busy. With the mushrooms sliced to methodical precision, he pushed them aside into an equally methodical pile and then began to assault the onion. He cut the bulb in the way he was instructed to, keeping his head down and wearing a sour face. Levi would have referred to his expressions in a cruel manner, so Shiro was happy that he had his back to the Italian. He did, however, look up when Lorelai spoke once again and far from letting Levi get a word in, he spoke for them.
“No. It’s quite alright,” Shiro said with a smile. “Besides, it would be terribly rude to cut you out of the conversation like that. This is your kitchen, after all.”
Lorelai:
“Oh but I wouldn’t mind. I’m quite happy to entertain myself if you two require some time to discuss important matters.” Her words were sincere and she smiled politely at Shiro before returning her attention to the soup she was making. The ingredients would be cooked and then blended, though it was just as easy perhaps to put it through the blender first. Her conscience was telling her that making the offer was stupid. This apartment was Levi’s safe haven. He came here to escape his work. This caused Lorelai to pause for a moment as she wasn’t sure if she should have insisted that she could cope alone and asked him to leave. Though she quickly told her annoying inner voice that she was sure that Levi would kick the man out himself if that was what he wanted to do.
Levi:
“If it was important, he wouldn’t have flaked on me tonight,” Levi rumbled like thunder.
Shiro didn’t look at the Italian, but put on his best smile for Lorelai. “Sometimes one just needs to take a break from certain… agitates.”
Levi could have snapped back, but he didn’t. There were plenty of places Shiro could have gone instead of here if he was just looking to get away from certain people. Levi suspected that it was something else that made Shiro lie about his whereabouts, but he probably would never ask the man straight out.
Lorelai:
Being sensitive to her environment, all Lorelai wanted to do was cheer Levi up. His grumbling, while perfectly normal for him, wasn’t something she could ease in her usual manner, not with company present.
‘If you wish your friend to leave Levi, you may ask him to do so. I will not be angry.’ She sent the words direct into his mind, aware of the fact that he could not reply.
With a nod to Shiro, she added to their conversation, albeit a little late due to the fact that she had chosen to address Levi first. “It is important to take time for yourself. You should not work every second of every day else you miss out on the simple joys of life.” The blonde smiled, but it wasn’t an expression for either man, it was purely for herself as she was once more learning to enjoy
Levi:
“I’ve tried to tell him that,” Shiro said, addressing the blonde. He then drew out an exasperated sigh. “The fact of the matter is that Levi doesn’t really listen to anyone.”
“When was the last time you had anything useful to say?” Levi barked, encouraging the other man to leer over his shoulder at him. “I can manage my own work-life ratio, so I don’t need you to tell me when to take a break.”
“Sure,” Shiro said, obsidian eyes flickering with rage before he turned back to Lorelai with an amused expression. “And… just in case you are wondering, Miss Lee, we are always like this.”
Lorelai:
“Oh the back and forth doesn’t worry me. I had assumed that this is how you are with one another.”
Lorelai washed off her hands, dried them and walked over to the sofa to place a hand on Levi’s shoulder before she leant over and gently kissed his cheek.
“He doesn’t work when he’s with me, so I know he doesn’t work all the time.”
Her hand gently squeezed his shoulder and she smiled down at him. He didn’t need her to defend him, of that she was certain but she didn’t like to see him stressed. What she really wanted to do was curl up on his lap but again, with company, it didn’t seem appropriate.
Levi:
Levi didn’t appreciate the public display of affection and he averted his gaze from Shiro’s as Lorelai kissed him on the cheek, rubbed his shoulder and smiled at him. The Italian didn’t consider for one second that he could tell Shiro to push off and instead wanted to push off himself. It just felt awkward and Levi wasn’t the only one to think so.
Shiro had turned to follow Lorelai with his death gaze and even as the woman began to act intimately with Levi, Shiro continued to stare at the pair of them. Seeing Levi turn away like he was pissed off or uncomfortable made the Japanese man feel a touch of bitter joy, but mostly he felt nauseous. It was still difficult to believe that Levi would settle down with anyone, least of all this doe-eyed female in front of him, but Shiro was starting to believe it. Obsidian eyes hit the floor quickly.
Lorelai:
With no response from Levi, Lorelai made her way back to the kitchen area, pausing briefly to rub Shiro’s arm an offer him a warm smile.
“Thank you so much for your help Shiro, but I think I can take over now. I wanted to get this done before Levi arrived and so we have lost the element of surprise.”
She didn’t seem in the least bit bothered by what she said. In fact she sounded happy about it, if that were possible. The truth was that she half expected the Italian to pop by before she could get everything ready and by being prepared for the worst, she could not be upset or disappointed when it had come to pass.
Re: ♡ Come dine with me? ♡ (Closed)
Posted: 30 Aug 2015, 18:28
by Levi DAmico
--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Levi:
Levi quirked a brow as Lorelai drifted away from him like a lost vessel, only to float over to Shiro and… physically make contact with him. Umber eyes passed over to the Japanese man who looked about as shocked as Levi had been by the sudden, unprovoked physical contact. A part of Levi wondered how fast he was and if he could intercept a lunge from Shiro, but on second thought, Levi sat back into the couch and decided to enjoy the show. Shiro was putting on a polite routine and while it must have been killing him on the inside, the Japanese man was shining brightly and bowing his head like none of this mattered.
“It’s… quite alright,” Shiro said, reeling slightly. “I said I would help and I intend to. I’m happy to ignore his existence if you are.”
Levi snorted, inciting a quick glare from the shark, but he didn’t say a word. He suspected Lorelai would put Shiro in his place for him.
Lorelai:
“Oh I could never ignore Levi,” Lorelai said as she wiped down the area she’d been working at, so that she could begin washing and slicing the fruit for dessert. “We may sit in silence at times but I am always perfectly comfortable in his presence. In fact, perhaps I should apologise for the quiet, since this is your first time in my apartment. My life didn’t allow for much electronica until recently so I do not watch much television or listen to much music.”
She left her explanation there. The truth was that she enjoyed the silence, especially if she’d been dealing with the voices all day. Not that the apartment was quiet to her, there was more than enough ‘noise’ about her in the form of the signals that only those with the appropriate gifts could see, hear and intercept. It was these signals that inspired the tune she was now humming softly to herself.
Levi:
The Italian was very proud of himself; a devilish smirk dominated his features, much to the dismay of the shark who’d taken the moment to glance his way again. Nevertheless, Shiro was proud. Too proud to show disappointment for the way Lorelai had shut him down. Well, really, what was he expecting?
“It’s fine,” the Japanese man said quickly, dismissively.
Shiro sighed to himself; if he were surrounded by Humans, they wouldn’t have heard it. He turned to focus on chopping the remainder of the onion. No more gentle cuts with the knife, he stepped up the pace and divided the half bulb into dozens of tiny, sour cubes in just a few seconds. His firm grip on the knife made the smile disappear from Levi’s face.
“Yeah… Don’t worry about him,” Levi added. “He’s loud enough for all of us.”
Lorelai:
Lorelai didn’t know if Levi was teasing his friend or not as she didn’t think him very loud but then she didn’t know what he was like behind closed doors in a more familiar environment. She wouldn’t have minded if he were loud though, her new family was full of loud and strong personalities. The blonde accepted the fact that most people raised their voices when they were excited, angry, etc. She just wasn’t one of them.
“Levi if you would like to put something on in the background, I believe my laptop is on the coffee table.”
Lorelai continued on in her own little world. She had heard Shiro sigh but was sure that she hadn’t said anything to upset him, so couldn’t fathom what had caused it. He’d been caught out in a lie not long ago but the pair of them seemed to have breezed past that.
“Shiro? What do you do in your spare time to relax? From what you said earlier I am assuming that you make a little more time for yourself than Levi does?”
Levi:
The first thing to happen was the look up from the cutting block. Shiro heard his name being uttered by the blonde and looked to her with a blank, albeit welcoming expression. It was going well for quite a while and Shiro waited for the moment where he could reply. The next thing to happen, however, was Shiro’s brows to take a nose dive. Levi couldn’t help but smirk at the words alone, but if he’d have seen the sour-puss face that Shiro was making, he probably would have laughed harder.
“I’m more efficient than he is,” Shiro said in the most armed voice. “So I have more time to relax than he does. Actually… Levi would have more time if he didn’t waste it getting over a hang-over. So… there’s also that to consider.”
“You gotta quit calling me a lush before I punch you in your damn face,” the Italian growled.
“Oh!” Shiro said, smiling broadly, keeping his sharp eyes on Lorelai all the while. “And that’s his other problem. He doesn’t know how to relax. Levi would rather work, would rather be thinking and stressing constantly than to chill out for one minute.”
Not being able to argue much, Levi just crossed his arms and growled to himself.
Lorelai:
Shiro didn’t really answer the question and the testosterone level in the room seemed to spike as the males began to bicker in what she suspected was their usual manner.
“We each of us have our ways of coping with life.” Lorelai’s words, while trying to defend Levi’s choices, contained a hint of sadness that showed that she had some experience in that herself. “And we don’t always choose the healthiest of outlets for our emotions. Stress can do horrible things to the body and the mind.” She wasn’t about to admit it but this was why she often tried to give Levi some peace when he visited. It wasn’t just about making him feel comfortable or at home, she liked to allow him the time relax and just be for a while. “I recently trained to become a masseuse in order to help those I love relax a little easier.”
The last sentence wasn’t a bragging one, in fact it was so softly spoken that it almost sounded like an afterthought. There was the whitest of lies in what she said too, as she had hinted that she had learned the skill for the benefit of multiple people but Levi was the sole reason for the skill she’d acquired; though her conscience often told her that now she had the skill, that she should use it and that it might actually do prudence some good to be pampered for a while.
Levi:
Two sculpted eyebrows rose at Lorelai’s comment about being a masseuse. To the Japanese man, it was a strange thing to admit unless it wasn’t somehow related to Levi and his inability to relax. Shiro very casually turned to Levi who was busy stewing in his seat and looking as if he wanted to disappear. Shiro understood that even though Levi was quite frank and honest with him most of the time, they weren’t as close as to share everything with one another. Apparently Levi liked a massage though and that news was perfect ammunition for the Yakuza.
“So Levi does have some kind of outlet then?” Shiro asked as he turned back to Lorelai. “Well that’s a relief.” His tone might have been light and cheery, he was wearing a pliant smile, but inside he was cracking up. “Sometimes I worry he’s going to burst a blood vessel with the way he is.”
Lorelai:
“Oh. I’m not sure I could claim that. Levi is who he is. I just wanted to be able to help him in any way possible.”
Lorelai smiled at Shiro and then glanced to Levi. It seemed weird to be taking about the man as if he weren’t right there. Though the gruff Italian was so quiet, that it was possible to forget that fact.
“I am considering offering my services to those that require it free of charge. My family and friends don’t seem to require my newly found skill and it would be a waste not to use what I have learned.”
The blonde didn’t sound bitter in this, just thoughtful. Levi and Pru were not overly tactile people and while CC might have enjoyed being massaged, the pair no longer spoke to one another. Ever the optimistic sort though, Lorelai was sure that she would find a way to maintain the knowledge she’d so recently acquired.
Levi:
Before the shark managed to bite down on the obvious piece of bait Lorelai was waving in front of him, Levi stood up and crossed the room to them. Shiro felt him advancing on him, the air practically quivered in the Italian’s wake and the ground seemed to bark in fear as he travelled. Still, he stood perfectly still, allowing the taller man into his space and – to his horror – to place a heavy hand on his shoulder. Levi leant in slightly to capture the full leer of those obsidian eyes, and of course they were leering at him; that smirk on the Italian’s face was infuriating.
“Say,” Levi murmured. “Why don’t you go ahead and find that leisure time of yours.” This was not a suggestion or even a pleasant offer of relief from one friend to another. The undertone in Levi’s words was threatening. “Figure you’ve worked enough for one day, don’t you?”
As the Italian stepped back, Shiro felt a residual chill on his shoulder. Despite the very evident demand, Shiro considered the chance to leave quite welcoming. If he continued to watch these two idiots parade around all loved up then he was going to say something vile or throw up. Either way, it would be messy. Shiro slipped the knife onto the counter in a controlled manner – the scrape of metal across the stone was as shrill as the look of quiet disdain on his face.
“Very well,” Shiro said with a flat tone. “I suppose love birds she be left to nest.”
Lorelai:
Curious eyes watched the men as Levi stood and came over to the kitchen area. She was used to the subtle hostility that seemed to cling to Levi even on his better days and so wasn’t too worried by his tone or actions. Seeing as how the men were friends and colleagues, she was sure that Shiro wasn’t intimidated by him either.
When the Japanese man called them love birds, Lorelai smiled. She didn’t realise that his words were likely meant to enrage her companion and yet she knew that Levi likely wouldn’t like what was said. Any mention of the L word seemed to put him in an odd mood and so Lorelai prepared herself for what might come next. She stayed quiet, hoping that the atmosphere in the apartment would soon clear.
Levi:
Maybe the shark was expecting Levi to fly off the handle at him, maybe say something cruel or threatening, but Levi wasn’t about to take the bait. Frankly, he wanted Shiro out of there. Levi assumed that the man’s presence was making Lorelai uncomfortable. She hated confrontation, right? And with the way that they spat insults at each other, she had to be hating this. Hell, he was even hating this. Usually sparring with Shiro could be fun, but, tonight it just felt awkward.
“Yep. So… See you tomorrow,” Levi growled at him, umber eyes stern and unyielding and clearly pushing the man toward the exit.
Shiro maybe held Levi’s gaze for a second before dismissing the man and smiling at Lorelai. After a very formal bow, which had his hair slipping past his shoulders, Shiro stood up straight again to address her.
“It was very… lovely to meet you, Miss Lee. I do hope Levi takes care of you. And if he doesn’t… Well, I’ll take care of him.”
Following a wink and something of a mischievous smile, the Japanese man shifted his attention once again. A glare was shared between the men before Shiro left without as much as a whisper. It was a damn shame that the stagnant, tense air of the apartment seemed to linger long after he was gone. Levi turned to Lorelai shortly after, something akin to nervousness in his eyes.
Lorelai:
“Oh,” Lorelai said making sure her hands were clean so that she could give her new friend a proper farewell. “Lorelai. Please. Miss Lee is far too formal.” She was about to step up and try to hug the man goodbye but he was all too quickly out of the door.
“Do you think it fate that the man that stopped to help me when I was in need turned out to be your friend?” she was smiling as she crossed the room to stand before him. “He seems very nice.” She took a hold of his hands, her fingers entwining with his, as she stared up into his umber orbs.
Lorelai had felt the tension in the air, could still feel the tension in fact, but she wasn’t going to let that get to her. She had a meal to finish preparing and she had the company of a wonderful man. Both reasons allowed for her natural positivity to balance her out enough to be able to ignore the more negative feelings Shiro’s presence had caused in her home.
Levi:
Levi found Lorelai’s reaction to Shiro leaving a lot more palatable than he’d found this entire evening. As she stepped up to him, she was quickly caught in a ring of his arms and held so close that it might have seemed as if one of them might drown without the other. Levi wanted to pat her on the head and make a joke, but, she probably wouldn’t take it too well or find it in particularly good taste. Instead Levi opted for brushing his fingers through the golden silk of her hair and purring against the top of her head like a very satisfied cat.
“Just glad he’s gone,” he said rather smugly before adding. “Prefer it when we’re alone.”
Lorelai:
Content in his arms, Lorelai made no effort to pull away and continue with dinner, at least not in that moment. While she’d enjoyed Shiro’s company and was glad to have met a friend and associate of Levi, she was all too happy to have him to herself. It was fair to say that this was perhaps how they worked best. Lorelai had no trouble showing affection in public if the moment took her, but Levi always seemed the sort to enjoy his privacy, so she curbed that behaviour if and when they did go out. At home though, where it was just the two of them, she was not so happy to maintain distance between them if she could help it. The dinner, while a nice thought, was really just a way to show Levi she cared. Not that he likely needed any such reminder what with the way Lorelai doted on him.
Levi:
The scent of freshly sliced vegetables was thick in the air, but it dissolved in the perfume of Lorelai – just as every other sense did. Levi’s hands busied themselves in her hair and held the small of her back, his thumb lightly brushing the elegant curve even if his hands were almost numb to the sensation. His field of vision was filled with Lorelai’s beautiful face, her peachy skin, her blonde hair, and the brightness of her dress. He didn’t need anything else and the sound of her absent breathing was a smoothly lullaby, like the rhythmic pattern of rain of a roof. Levi was engrossed with everything she was and before he knew exactly what he was doing, he’d already scooped her off her feet and was on the move. Screw dinner, he would devour something else…