Locks of Love [Lorelai]

[Levi DAmico]

Had he considered the full parameters of what it meant if his worlds were to collide? No. It wasn’t possible. He didn’t know everything – couldn’t know everything – and there was only so much time in the night to plan and predict and strategise. The rest he had to leave in Fate’s hands and hope that her sister, Karma, wouldn’t decide that now would be a great time to have him pay for all his misdeeds. Or maybe it was too late for that – judging by tonight’s events. Or maybe he shouldn’t be so flippant as to decide that there was a greater purpose to all of this and none of it was in his control. It certainly wasn’t his usual way of thinking. Even when things went wrong, Levi knew that someone or something within the universe was to blame and he could even admit it when it was him. He wasn’t overly spiritual, but there was always that question in the back of his mind and always that frustration when he couldn’t figure things out, couldn’t prepare for things. And besides all that, there was this supernatural ******** to consider. There were things happening around him on a daily basis that defied what we understood to be science, so was that evidence of a higher power after all? Suffice it to say, Levi was on the fence.

Thinking about the immediate situation though, bringing Lorelai to his place of work was a little risky. Levi didn’t trust her. He tried to, but he couldn’t. It wasn’t just because she was a little crazy, that they weren’t all that familiar with one another, and that she wouldn’t even understand how she could screw him over with so few words, Levi could barely trust anyone. He didn’t even trust the people who had been by his side, loyal to a fault, for many years. Besides, it was just better not to. The fewer people he let in and the less people knew about him, the less he had to worry about how they could betray him. Lorelai was only privy to the information everyone was, the safe kind of information; his name, where he was from, how old he was, his marital status – the really basic ****. He never talked about work with Lorelai if he could help it and was vague on the matter when he couldn’t. Levi had never mentioned where he worked, what his work entailed, and while he was taking her to his office tonight, he probably wouldn’t say anything unless she asked him directly and he failed to be able to deflect.

Levi was just – gingerly – throwing on his shoulder holster when he heard Lorelai’s voice. He looked over at her with a frown, slowing his movements as he evaluated her appearance. She looked fine to him, she looked like herself, and there was no blood anywhere. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t some supermodel – the type his people might expect a capo to bring into the office. The fact that Levi was bringing anyone at all would be surprising alone. Few people entered his office as it was and the only female to was Dhara; and that was because she was employed there – sort of. For a personal assistant, she didn’t half take a lot of vacations. Levi told himself he didn’t mind all that much because she was a nosy cow, combative at times, and frankly, your typical woman. Levi could just about tolerate his exposure to the supposed fairer sex as it was, so if Dhara wanted time off, she could have it. Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to deal with her, or many of his employees tonight. If Levi wasn’t around, most of his employees took that as a sign to clock off early and since he didn’t stop them, he basically encouraged this behaviour.

“You look fine,” he told her frankly, watching her blush and fuss over her appearance.

It didn’t occur to him that she might be worried about embarrassing him or anything like that. Levi took her fussing to be a normal female habit, so he shrugged it off and got back to arming himself. There wasn’t exactly the intention to shoot Gino in the face, but he never went anywhere without his guns. With the Beretta in the shoulder holster and the BHP on the belt, Levi wrapped himself in the leather jacket – again, oblivious to Lorelai’s true feelings. He didn’t know the difference between vegetarians and vegans, but neither did he care to. Levi felt it was just ridiculous, leading him back to his quarrel with this belief that people were somehow removed from nature. Everyone was entitled to believe what they wanted, but that didn’t mean they were immune to stupidity and therefore ridicule. Levi wouldn’t say anything because he never wanted to upset Lorelai and he wasn’t even sure it was worth wasting his breath on the matter. Lorelai wasn’t stupid, it was just that some beliefs, like stubborn stains, couldn’t be washed away with one rinse.

“If you wanna go back to your apartment,” Levi said, softening. “I think you look fine, but if you wanna change, or... whatever... just say. It’ll be easier to get a ride from your place anyway.”

[Lorelai]

The fact that he said she looked fine did not even begin to settle Lorelai's nerves and while the majority of her wardrobe was made up of dresses just like the one she had on, she did have a few more elegant evening style dresses awaiting her. Why she hadn't recalled that before she didn't know but now with him practically appraising her, she was certain that returning home and changing was the best course of action.

"We can tome to my apartment and go from there," she told Levi with more certainty than she'd had just moments ago. "We shall tome to mine, I can change so that I won't be of any embarrassment to you and then we can leave. It won't take me long. I'm sure I have something more appropriate at home."

She moved closer to him, ignoring the jacket, as she pushed herself onto the tips of her toes and lightly pressed her lips to his. She'd kissed him one time too many already this evening, so she didn't even hesitate in doing it again. Besides, this was a goodbye kiss, she was leaving. Granted it wasn't for very long and he would soon follow after her but for the briefest of moments, they would be on separate sides of the city.

"I'll meet you there."

And with that she was gone.

Once home, she didn't waste even a single second before heading for her bedroom. The door to which was left wide open as she began to look through the dresses she had. Most were plain and rather boring, just as she liked them but she was surprised to see just how many nice dresses she did have, far more than she had remembered in fact. She began to wonder why she had them. Had she bought them herself? Had Ana purchased them? Had Pru been filling out her closet? The answer escaped her in that moment, but the truth was that she had acquired each and every dress herself; some through rather nefarious means while intoxicated. It had been a way to cope with her pain and the more daring, elegant style a way to escape who she truly was.

She selected a rather fetching purple toned evening dress and set about the task of shedding her regular outfit in favour of this new one. While she was still convinced she would be an embarrassment to Levi should any of his work colleagues saw her, she could at least console herself with the fact that she had tried to make an effort on his behalf. To finish the look off, of course she had to also change her shoes as her usual ones would not be appropriate. Lorelai didn't have as much choice of footwear as she did of dresses but she found a pair of black, strappy kitten heels.

[Levi DAmico]

Levi hadn’t taken into consideration that the words ‘you look fine’ in male speak meant ‘you need to change, you look awful’ in woman speak. Maybe because he’d said it as many times as he’d offered to take her home, however, meant to Lorelai that Levi was subtly trying to tell her that she did in fact need to change. When she had decided to go home, Levi nodded to her and continued to get himself ready to face Gino. Levi took his phone from out of the drawers of the coffee table, along with his wallet and keys and general belongings, returning them to the appropriate pockets where possible. He hadn’t been giving Lorelai his full attention because he wasn’t much of a multi-tasker, so when she mentioned that she was an embarrassment to him, he had nodded along to that too. And before Levi had even known what was going on, Lorelai had come over to place a kiss on his lips. The sudden physical contact brought him around and umber eyes fixed on sad blues. Lorelai made a mention of leaving and he frowned, watching as the flash of colour immediately vanished.

“Wait. Lori!” he called out, but Levi’s words fell into the stagnant silence of the room.

Lorelai had tomed off and left him there. It took Levi a couple of seconds to get his act together and tome to her apartment. By the time he’d arrived, Lorelai had already disappeared into her bedroom. Levi called out to her again, checking his immediate surroundings and finding no sign of her. He decided to search for her, making his way over to the rooms he hadn’t been in before. Levi didn’t know which room was private and which wasn’t, and since she had left the door wide open, he thought nothing of walking in. The irrational part of his brain was in full swing, empowering his muscles to march right into the room she was in to make sure she was not being held captive again. It turned out that Lorelai was perfectly fine – in fact, she was fine in more ways than one. The blonde had slipped out of her loose-fitting sundress and was in the process of slipping into another by the time he’d come through. Levi stood dumbfounded and enchanted in the doorway for a moment, watching curves of soft coral skin disappearing into swathes of silk. A flood of golden hair washed down her shoulders in waves, obscuring her features and deluding him to the fact that this was Lorelai he was gawking at. When she lifted her head, however, the spell on him was broken and Levi averted his gaze and stepped back out of the room.

He wasn’t going to say anything unless she brought it up so he decided to wait for Lorelai in the living room – the place he probably should have just waited for her in the first place.

[Lorelai]

She slipped the shoes on and then contemplated the state of her hair.

You should put it up.
I should?
Mmhmm.
Why?
It would suit the style of the dress if you wore your hair up and off your shoulders.
But I always wear my hair down.
Not always.
Most of the time. Almost all of the time. Except when I knot it back to keep it out of my way. Besides I have no reflection. It's a little difficult to put my hair up without one.
Excuses Lorelai, that's all I'm hearing from you. You can do that twisty thing you do. You know the one. Put a grippy thing on it.
But that would look messy.
It would look better than having your hair down.

Lorelai crossed over to her dressing table and picked up her brush so that she could brush out her hair while she decided on what to do.

Did you see the way he looked at you?
No.
He likes you.
Shh. I know he likes me. He just doesn't like me like I like him.
You're both liars.
I am not a liar. And why would Levi lie about that?
I dunno. Because he's a man?
You're stereotyping.
Why yes, yes I am. It's still true.
Women lie too.
Yes they do. People lie. You lie.
I do not.
Yes you do. You don't like to do it but you do it. You're lying right now by saying you don't lie.

Lorelai's nose crinkled at this realisation. She so seldom lied that she liked to think that she never did it but she did lie and she knew it. It was the way of the world. People told white lies to protect other people's feelings. Or they moderated the truth to keep secrets and even Lorelai couldn't rightly say that she didn't have any of those. She used to lie on an almost daily basis when she first arrived in the city what with the amount of times she got caught in places she wasn't meant to be. Of course she wasn't very good at lying and people always saw right through her which left her with just one option; run.

Having brushed her hair out, she pulled it back into a ponytail, twisted it a couple of times and then secured it with a rather large amber coloured hair claw. It was the quickest and easiest way she had of securing her hair up and off her shoulders and didn't require her to be able to see her reflection. She then fussed with the ends of her hair that now cascaded out of the top of the claw, as she attempted to spread the strands out a little, making sure that hair didn't favour one side over another. It was a casual up-do and all she was capable of doing at that moment and since she wasn't the sort to wear make-up, she was all but ready. Though having said that, she stopped to add one last finishing touch as she opened her draw. From it she retrieved the single tube of lip gloss that she owned, unscrewed the cap and drew the wand over her lips, adding a soft, pale pink sheen to them. Now ready to face Levi, though still hoping she would not have to meet any of his colleagues, she fastened the cap on the lip gloss, and placed it back where she found it.

Straps Lorelai.

Her conscience reminded her of that one last task and she quickly set about switching out her bra for one that was strapless, of course that took a little work and she had to then secured her tome in its new home. Heels on, hair up, bra fixed, she was now ready to go and join the male waiting for her in her living room.

"You could have kept me company in the bedroom if you wanted to Levi," she said as she emerged from the other room. "I wouldn't have minded. Is this dress more appropriate for your workplace?"

To say that she was nervous was a bit of an understatement. She didn't want to disappoint him in any way and she was almost certain that she would, if she hadn't already. Allowing herself to be kidnapped and forcing him into rescuing her (even if she didn't know or expect it) didn't sit well with her. In her mind, the injuries he'd sustained were all her fault and she felt as guilty as if she had been the one to pull the trigger that sent those bullets burrowing into his chest.

[Levi DAmico]

Waiting for Lorelai was a demonstration in willpower and patience like no other. As she focused on getting dressed, Levi tried to focus on anything but the image of her half-naked form. He patrolled the living room, inspecting anything and everything that would normally catch his interest – but failed. Levi didn’t care about her house plants, any new books that had been added to her collection or the state of the world outside her window. In fact, Levi could barely summon the mental focus to send a message to his usual driver to come and pick the pair of them up from Lorelai’s apartment. All he could really think about was how she’d looked arched over like Venus, sliding on a gown as sun-kissed hair floated and tumbled around her. She wasn’t supposed to be attractive, and he was supposed to be keeping a level-head about his relationship with Lorelai. He couldn’t think about her in that way, it would ruin everything. Yet, frustratingly, it was like the more he tried not to think about it, the more he couldn’t stop himself.

Lorelai’s attraction and affection was like a disease, slowly infecting him. Levi knew he had to keep this girl sweet to remain in her loop, to find some benefits to this Vampiri existence, but he’d forgotten that this was supposed to be a strategy, a business plan. He wasn’t supposed to become genuinely attached to her, but now he found himself caring about her well-being, her happiness, and no longer sought her out for what benefits she could provide. The augmentations she delivered were all well and good, all useful and appreciated, but it was a minor thing between them. It was something she’d started and he wouldn’t mind if she’d stopped at any point. Logically, that was a stupid attitude to hold. Considering the advantages he gained for whenever she would give him a boost, he should have expected such things to be signed into a contract between them; trading Blood Heal for Telekinetic Shield. Now, however, he just did it because he wanted to take that nagging hunger away from Lorelai, knowing how much it hurt her to think of feeding on animals or people.

Levi was clearly a mess. He’d lost his control of the situation and he was spiralling into a very real and very dangerous relationship with this woman. His only solution was to take a step back, regain his bearings, and if he was confident that he could keep her at arm’s length, then reengage. Only, this solution wasn’t perfect and couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t just end up in the same situation that he was in right now. If Lorelai responded to his aloofness with the blues, what choice would he have but to console her to keep his place in her favours? He had to be there for her, he couldn’t step away, and he’d just have to find a way of doing that which didn’t involve anything too emotionally demanding. Levi didn’t want a girlfriend, he never wanted one, and least of all did he want one that was outside of Cosa Nostra. It just made things messy and complicated, his life contained enough **** as it was, and how would Lorelai ever accept that he was a criminal, a thug, a monster? Levi was certain. If he revealed what he was, he would lose her.

The sound of footsteps followed by a melodic voice drew Levi out of his brooding. He turned from the window to get a good look at her and although his brows were knitted into a frown, he was happy to see her. Of course, in the back of his mind, he was still measuring her new dolled-up appearance to one before it. She said that she didn’t mind him keeping her company in her bedroom, but that was obviously a bad idea. Levi had to pull his attention away from such lewd thoughts and return to the present. He sighed at her following words, shaking his head, and as he approached, made sure that he was speaking in a calm, low voice.

“You always look good to me,” he said, cupping her left cheek in his hand. His thumb idly stroked the velvet of her skin and he regarded her carefully. “Don’t worry so much.”

At that, Levi slipped his hand free and stepped back a little to give them both some space. He might have paid her a compliment, but couldn’t risk saying anything stupid or embarrassing. There was also a chance that saying she looked amazing now would indicate that she didn’t earlier, but Levi hadn’t even considered that. His thoughts quickly turned to his phone to check the time and check for any messages. They weren’t all that far from his place of work so it wouldn’t take too long for a car to arrive or for it to get them there.

[Lorelai]

Lorelai leaned into his touch. He had strong, kind hands, at least she envisioned them as such, and he wasn't usually one to initiate this sort of closeness so she enjoyed it while she could, her left hand coming up to cover his right. There was an imagined warmth to his touch that was most likely due to some sense memory, but that in itself was a little odd, as the last relationship she'd had as a human had been with a vampire; Levi's sire in fact. While it was possible for a vampire to warm their skin, Lorelai couldn't remember the last time she'd felt anything like this.

"It's very kind of you to say so Levi." Her cheeks turned the softest shade of pink. "I really can't help but worry though. I don't dress like the rest of you do." The timid blonde turned her head a little into his palm so that she could gently kiss it. "You do realise that I could stay here. I don't have to come with you if you don't want me to. I'll be perfectly safe. I'm sure that if I called out to Pru she'd come sit with me."

It had been a while since she'd thought of Prudence and now that she said it she wondered if perhaps she should have reached out to her little red star a little sooner. Her sire had every right to know what had happened to her and yet her conscience was telling her that, that might not be the best course of action.

But she'd understand.
She wouldn't. The woman is overly protective.
But I like that about her.
Will you still like that about her if she turns on Levi?
Well...
And if she tells you not to see him again.
I...
You'd have no choice Lorelai.
I could ask her to take it back.
And if she doesn't? Do you really want to risk that.
I... Well... No.

Lorelai wasn't overly fond of secrets and lies but she was beginning to see a necessity for them in the real world. In Hoshkosh things were simpler and secrets were notoriously difficult to keep due to the tight knit nature of the community. Here in the city however where almost everyone was a perfect stranger, secrets were all but expected. While she wouldn't lie to Prudence directly, partially as she wouldn't actually be able to, she didn't have to tell her everything either. And if keeping secrets meant keeping Levi, she was sure she could handle it.

[Levi DAmico]

It would have been better for everyone if Prudence didn’t find out about this mess. The least the redhead could do was throw him out on his *** and threaten him to keep him away from Lorelai. Levi knew there was a slim chance of things being kept secret though. Lorelai idolised the woman and probably told her every detail of her life. The fact that she had been kidnapped tonight, held at the tip of a knife by some strange men for seemingly no real purpose other than to piss Levi off, well, that was the kind of information one had to scream about. Levi hadn’t bothered to explain why things had happened, who those men were, or why he’d known exactly where to find her, and even though Lorelai didn’t really question it, he figured her mind was ticking over with trying to work everything out. He wouldn’t tell her either, he had more secrets to keep after all, and while he thought he could ask Lorelai not to say anything, he wasn’t sure if she would listen. She didn’t seem the type to like keeping secrets, she’d been dead-against them when she’d pestered Levi about his own. Despite her resistance, he knew he would have to keep Lorelai in check and make sure that Prudence never found out that he’d inadvertently put her childe in danger…

Levi had been checking his messages when the subject of Prudence and staying with her was broached. Levi frowned and looked over to her, putting the phone away as he did so.

“I’d rather have you with me,” he uttered.

His voice was low and quiet almost as if he didn’t want those words to be heard at all. It felt dangerous to say it because Lorelai could so easily take that to mean something more than it was. Not that Levi knew exactly what it was, or was willing to admit to what it was. The fact of the matter was simple; he didn’t want Lorelai out of his sight for the meantime, but the reasons for which were convoluted. He didn’t want her to be left alone because he knew she would immediately reach out to Prudence and tell her everything. He also didn’t want her to be left alone because he was worried about whatever counter-attacks were due. Things were a mess right now, but they could get messier. Levi almost wanted to recommend to Lorelai that she up sticks and move while she still had the chance, but suggesting anything of the sort would throw up another host of questions that Levi didn’t want to answer. This was all too stressful. He needed a cigarette, another shot of whisky, or… something. Anything that would get him to relax a little and focus.

[Lorelai]

His words were all she needed to let the subject of staying and of calling Pru drop away. He wanted her with him and she was thrilled to be allowed to be with him, so in that way it worked well. She was dressed, her hair up. She didn't feel as anxious due to the kinda words Levi had said and so she was ready to leave.

"Where is your office?" she asked a little timidly.

She didn't want to pry, but she needed to know, to know which portal to take. Levi might have ordered a car to collect them at the apartment but Lorelai had no idea as to his plan and so assumed that they would be going via portal since they were incredibly quick and easy to use. Not that she had many portals in her home. What she did have however, was a portal to a station and from there, they could literally go anywhere they liked. There was something about travelling via mystical means that Lorelai enjoyed. The prospect of being able to simply recite a few words and return homes was both amazing and incredibly convenient; most of the time.

"I'm not asking to be nosy," she quickly added. "I was just wondering which portal to take is all and well... I suppose it likely doesn't matter. If we take the one to the station we can go from there. Correct?"

The entire time she spoke, her eyes drank in his form; the way he stood, his mannerisms, everything. She was looking for weakness, but not for any negative reason, she was looking to see how he was fairing after being shot. Was he in pain? Should he be resting? Are the dressings on his wounds holding? The last things she wanted was for him to walk into his office looking like he was unwell or in need of assistance Lorelai wasn't worried for his reputation though, not like Levi might, no, she worried that someone might discover his secret. Their secret.

"Is it absolutely necessary to go to the office now Levi. Can you not put this visit off until tomorrow? You'll be stronger then and your wounds would have had a chance to heal a little."

Stop coddling him Lorelai, he's a grown man.
I can't help it.
No. I don't suppose you ever can.
There's nothing wrong with being concerned for a friend.
Only we don't want him as a friend now do we?
We don't? I mean. No. I suppose I don't. We don't.
Good then stop treating him like a child when you know he's anything but. You go treating him like a china doll and I'm sure friend is the most we can ever hope for. And even that might be a stretch then.

The blonde fell silent and moved to look out of the window, much as Levi had done earlier. She wasn't very good at being nonchalant about things though and so while she attempted to distance herself from him and not flap about him like a mother hen, her gaze more often than not found its way back to him. Though who could blame the poor girl. Levi was rather handsome and had that unmistakable air of confidence (or perhaps arrogance) about him that most women seemed to love so much. Unfortunately for Levi, while Prudence was (and likely always would be) Lorelai's primary focus, she was unmistakably smitten with him.

[Levi DAmico]

The fact that Lorelai was so confused at what was going on shouldn’t have surprised Levi in the slightest. He hadn’t told her a thing and kept her in the dark because he was used to not telling people anything and just expecting them to blindly follow. So when they responded with confusion rather than outright compliance, Levi got annoyed. While his frustration wasn’t justified, that didn’t mean that he was just going to stop being irritated. He frowned at her for a moment as he thought through his options. Levi didn’t trust her – he didn’t trust anybody – but it couldn’t hurt to tell her what was going on tonight. She was going to be a part of it and he couldn’t just expect her to sit still with her eyes and ears shut to what was going on around her. She’d be meeting Gino tonight too and he wasn’t just going to ignore the strange girl in Levi’s presence. Levi fully expected the man to ask a lot of annoying questions – as was the old ********’s tendency. So if Gino wasn’t going to ignore her, he couldn’t expect Lorelai to ignore him and everything else. He had to tell her something, even if it was just to keep her from asking too many questions. Levi took a deep breath, umber eyes glancing left and then right before looking into peaceful blues again.

“I called for a ride to take us from here to my office,” he said. “And I am fine. Really. I’ve gotta meet someone at the office tonight, so there’s no backing out. He came a long way…” Levi paused for a moment, eyes averting just momentarily. “And he’s family. So… It’s gotta be tonight. Are you ok with that?”

In the millisecond that Levi waited for her response, he felt his phone go off. It hurt quite a bit because of its location, right up close to a fresh bullet hole. He winced a little, but pushed his pain and discomfort aside. This was how it would have to be; he couldn't show any weakness. Levi took the phone out, eyed the message and then looked back to Lorelai as he pocketed the mobile – this time on the other side of his jacket.

“So our ride’s here,” he said. “Are you ready?”

[Lorelai]

"Oh. Then we have no need to go via the portals."

Lorelai smiled and nodded to Levi and set about the task of finding her front door key so that she could lock up as she left. It wasn't something she did often but she liked to make the show of being normal if she left via the front door, even if she would likely be toming home. The key she found in her cardigan pocket, and so as quickly as Levi had told her of the car's arrival, she was ready to leave.

"Now I am ready," she said as she moved to the door.

Lorelai pulled the front door open and waited for Levi to leave before closing the door behind them and locking the door. Having locked the door she then had the challenge of figuring out what to do with the key, she looked down at her dress and after only the briefest of glances realised that she would have to secrete the key in her bra; on the other side to the tome. She disliked having to adjust herself like that in public and so she waited until they were in the elevator.

There was no-one watching or waiting for her this time, something her subconscious noted as she walked on Levi's arm. Despite the evening she'd had she was now beginning to feel a lot better; more confident even. It was either due to some boost in confidence provided by the dress she was wearing or Levi's kind words when he said she always looked good to him. Whatever it was, it had her walking a little taller than usual, one hand grasping the dress at her side as if she were frightened that she might step on it or trip over it perhaps.

"So... I get to meet someone in your family?" she asked having pretty much worked out that he meant his human family as she knew his sire and sibling already. "Who is he to you? You did say he didn't you?"

She was curious as to why he had to meet a family member at work but for now that question could wait. Not only was she getting to spend more time with the man she was incredibly interested in, but now he wasn't just taking her to work, he was letting her meet a member of his family. To her this was huge, as Levi was quite the secretive sort. Once more doubt began to creep in and she found herself running her hand over her dress and fussing with her hair. She was chewing a little nervously on her lower lip as she was unable to chew on her fingernail like she might usually do.