A brief night

After leaving Syllia and Thunder in the kitchen, Levi headed upstairs but looked for another room. 

As he walked up from the hall area, he looked left and right unsure which side she would be on.

He grabbed his chin and scratched the back of his head, he just randomly went to one side.

"Fuck!"

"Only me, Lord Leviathan."

"You can't just appear like that, gave me a heart attack..."

"My apologies," she replied.

It was the maid who had cooked the meal moments ago, she was so short she easily went unnoticed.

"Can you remind me what your name was? Terribly sorry," asked Levi.

"It's Exsa, Lord, although I wished you remembered it," she said slightly vexed.

"Right, Sorry Ex. I was just going-"

"-The other way, you were going the other way, third door on the right."

"How do you-"

"-Know? It's quite obvious, Lord Leviathan,"

"Just call me Levi like everyone please," he smiled.

"I politely decline, but I'll accept you calling me Ex," she responded with a neutral tone.

Why is everyone here so weird?

"Alright Ex, thanks a lot," he said as he walked the opposite side.

Third door, third door... This one?

As he arrived he slowly grabbed the doorknob and steadily turned it open.

Surprisingly, the light inside was still on, shadows dancing on the walls showing a figure looking down.

"Please, enter," she said.

Levi was surprised, but quickly opened the door and closed it behind him after entering. 

"I just," started Levi.

"Stop right there."

Lydia turned around from the desk she was sitting at, looking at Levi.

Levi's gaze was stuck to the floor, as he was lightly biting his lips, his left hand holding the back of his neck.

"Please, just-"

"Just sit down," she said with a warm smile.

Next to the desk was another chair against the wall. 

Levi slowly walked to it, lightly dragging his feet as he sat down.

Lydia was reading something and barely looked at him. As he was about to say something again, she slid a book toward him.

"What is it?"

"You need to get better at reading and writing, don't you?"

"Well yes, but I came here for-"

"-I know what you came for."

"So then please listen!" exclaimed Levi who slightly raised his voice. He was now looking at her in anguish, his eyes filled with desperate hope.

"You should listen to me instead," she raised her eyes from the book she was reading and stared into Levi's soul. "One mistake doesn't define someone. You will make more mistakes as time goes on, but what is one mistake against 99 good deeds? Just make sure you do those 99 good deeds and I'll be happy. Don't overthink it, please."

As she said please her hand clutched on her outfit. Her eyes shimmered with hope, as she stared at Levi.

Levi opened his mouth but no words came out. Instead of apologizing again as he had planned, he simply took her hand between his.

"99 good deeds starting today," he said.

Lydia brightly smiled while slightly tilting her head, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Alright, let's read a bit," he said as he let go of her hand, grabbing the book she had given him.

She nodded and got back into her own book.

"What are you reading?" asked Levi curious.

"You'll read this one in a few weeks," she simply said.

"Are you vetting the books I read? I'm not sure that's necessary," chuckled Levi.

"I'm learning how to read as well so that I can teach you better," she simply said without lifting her eyes from the book.

He stared at her eyes, as they fixated on the book she was reading. She'd from time to time slide her hair back as it got in her way. 

She'd slightly bite her lips, as her finger traced the words as she read them. She would frown here and there, but never for too long.

"If you have time to stare at me, you have time to read," she said as if sensing his gaze.

And they read part of the night away.

***

Levi woke up from birds singing and the sun peeking through the curtains.

He was on the couch that was on the opposite wall from the bed since Helian was sleeping in it.

But as he sat up, he realized Helian slept in a sitting position against the couch on the floor next to him.

From the noise Levi caused, Helian woke up and jumped to his feet, quickly looking around.

"You're quite energized," said Levi with a coarse morning voice.

"Sorry I woke you up," quickly apologized Helian.

"What?" laughed Levi, "I'm the one who woke you up."

"I'm the one imposing," quickly replied Helian.

"Nonsense," he just answered.

He got up, stretching his arms and legs, and opened every curtain to another beautiful sunny day.

Turning around, Levi noticed Helian still wore the same clothes he had the previous day.

"Alright, let's raid my closet for something new. You can leave the cape and your old clothes on the bed, someone will take them."

Helian quickly grabbed the cape, holding it tighter on his shoulders.

"But you said you were giving me the cape," almost whispered Helian.

"There's plenty other, you can take any of them, I'm sure there's a better one in there. And it probably won't be dirty too," said Levi trying to sound as convincing as possible.

"But this is the one I want," replied Helian avoiding Levi's eyes.

Levi arched his eyebrows while in thought.

"Well, you're right. Just make sure you wash it eventually, it's been dragged on the ground along with me quite a bit," Levi chuckled.

"Yes, don't worry I'll take care of it!"

"Hah, I'm not really worrying..."

Levi realized Helian had looked into his eyes for the first time as he said those words.

Levi's face lit up, he walked up to Helian and held his shoulder a moment, "And you know what, I'll be honest this does look good on you."

Helian smiled back, while they both stood in the middle of the room.

"But," started Levi while Helian's expression became concerned, "If you don't change everything else and wash, I've learned the hard way that those relentless maids will do it for you... whether you want it or not, and they have their ways..." said Levi, as he trailed off, his eyes staring in the distance while recalling those harsh memories.

Helian's eyebrows touched his hairline while his jaw dropped. His eyes rapidly darted around the room with a sense of urgency.

Levi pointed toward a door in a corner, "The closet's there, pick anything you want really."

Helian walked quickly, going right in as he reached it. It didn't take him long before coming out with a bunch of clothes piled up in his arms.

"Ehh," said Levi.

"You said anything," replied Helian.

The clothes Helian had chosen were the simplest in his walk-in, pale colors with basic fabric and barely anything designed into it.

"Well, it works, I guess..." replied Levi while raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms.

A loud knock resounded on the door as it opened at the same moment.

Lydia came in, followed by more maids.

"See Ex? I told you this would happen if we let them handle it," she said while turning around.

"I'm extremely sorry, Lydia, I didn't know Lord Leviathan was capable of this new low," replied Exsa.

"Hey, I'm in the room?" but everyone ignored him as he protested.

Lydia pointed toward three maids, "go pick something for both of them," she then pointed to three others, "and you go run the water, warm it up."

"Of course," they said as they all got busy.

Helian went and looked outside of the window but was quickly brought back by Levi's voice.

"Yeah, they won't let you jump out of the window. And as you can see, she's conveniently blocking the exit. This is happening, but just know I'll be right there suffering with you."

Helian's concerned look grew as he hid behind Levi, whose expression wasn't much better.

Lydia walked toward the both of them, "So, we're 'relentless', huh?"