Chapter Text
This tension was driving you insane.
The movie played but you could barely follow it – only that you’d seen it before, you’d be completely lost otherwise.
You glance to your side, trying to subtly look at him.
The glow from the TV made his face seem blank – blanker than usual – and the shadows emphasised his frown lines. You had at points before told him to stop frowning so much or his face would get stuck like that – at that point you figured out he’s quite self-conscious of the lines – and you did notice him attempting to be more neutral.
The downside of this neutrality meant that it was impossible to get a read on him. Resting bitch face, amazing poker-face, however you want to look at it, it gave you the same answer every time. Nothing.
You feel like your thoughts and being are like a stormy sea, choppy and battering against everything in their turmoil. Yet he stands solids, a lighthouse sans a guiding light. Firm, impenetrable, proud and infuriatingly stoic, God, give me something to work with-
“-ed?” His voice snaps you out of your daze.
The movie is paused and his grey eyes are fixed on you.
Why’d he pause? What was he saying? Is this why girls always say to keep your eyes ahead on the TV when watching movies with guys? Shit, what was he saying?
“What? Sorry, Levi, what were you saying?” Your mouth feels dry and you have to swallow.
His eyes remain on you. Blank.
Your heart hammers. Is he going to kiss you? Is that why he paused the movie? Is that why he’s looking at you? You wouldn’t mind if he did – not really – he’s not as scary right now as usual. Maybe he’s waiting and then he’s going to lean forward and press-
“I asked if you got that issue with your pay sorted.” He says, voice level.
You blink. That’s it? He paused the movie to ask about your pay?
“My pay?” You stammer slightly.
“Yes.” He nods, his tone making his seem irritated at your question. “They had you on the wrong tax code. Is it fixed?”
You blink owlishly.
He sighs before rubbing his eyes, hair falling over is fingers before he pushes it back.
“You were on the wrong tax code, you got taxed way more than you should’ve. I told them it was wrong so if they haven’t fixed it yet, you could be losing money. If it’s just tax, file a tax return, but National Insurance is lost…”
You sit open-mouthed, staring at him as he rants about taxes. You feel like a child, listening to your father talk about something way beyond your understanding.
Clarity hits you.
“Wait.” You interrupt, trying not to wither under his stern glare. “You said to fix it?”
“Yes. I went downstairs and told one of the new guys to fix it. Saw it as a good learning opportunity.”
By “learning opportunity” Levi means a chance for him to berate and verbally beat the shit out of one of the new recruits. Publically. To prove a point. Everything Levi does has a purpose, a lesson.
The lesson for the unfortunate new recruit was that he better fix it or he’d make him regret picking this career path.
He wouldn’t permit his precious girl being stolen from.
“I didn’t realise out were so knowledgeable in this.” You say slowly, still processing the change in direction.
He’s giving you whiplash.
“I do it for a living.” He huffs, and you try to remember. Levi doesn’t talk about work that much. Just basic complaints of incompetence.
“You work in….?” You say, trying to not seem so award.
“I’m an Enforcement Officer.” He says brusquely.
Jesus, of course you are. You think, thinking of his harsh demeanour and foul language.
“Oh. Well. Thank you… for fixing it.” You’re hesitant to say more, off-balance.
He nods and reaches for the remote, unpausing the movie and relaxing again.
You stare at him.
He’s really just going to continue on like nothing happened.
You quickly snatch the remote off him and pause it again. You speak quickly as he’s already turning, frowning and about to give off.
“Is that all you have to say to me?” You ask.
He stares at you blankly.
“I said what I said.” He responds icily, eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Why? What’d you think I was gonna say?”
“Not say.” You murmur. “Do.”
He stares.
“I thought you were gonna kiss me.” You tell him, softly.
His eyes widen a fraction, and in the soft blue TV glow he looks so much younger.
“You wanted me to kiss you?” He asks, and his words sound short, borderline breathless.
“I thought you were going to kiss me” You clarify.
Those grey eyes are so intense, you feel like cowering away, which you do a little. You can’t deny how turned on you are though.
It’s hateful.
“So you wouldn’t mind if I did?” He asks carefully, turned to face you properly.
Levi always gives you his undivided attention. Every time. Even back when you first met, even at the wedding. Though you barely remember the wedding on account of you being plastered and two sheets to the wind, you do remember glimpses of Levi. How he looked. How he looked at you. The rest is a blur.
“The thought doesn’t repulse me.” You say, and he snorts, which in turn makes you snort as well.
“The thought of a kiss or of me?”
“Why not both?”
“Why not?” He whispers, calloused hands gently cupping your cheeks, thumbs swiping over your cheekbones.
Your head spins at having him be this close. You’re still conflicted on him.
Levi doesn’t make any sense to you. He’s an enigma. But you’ve always loved puzzles.
Your lips meet his as you both press forward, and whilst its sweet, you can feel his self-restraint, can see in the tension of his shoulders and in the grip he has on your cheeks.
His tongue runs over the seam of your lips and you whimper when it pushes past, his thumbs pushing your jaw open and letting him drink his fill of you.
He kisses like a parched man.
The soft noises of pleasure he makes only make you wetter, and you bury your hands into his hair and kiss him harder.
You can barely think. It’s like a haze has descended over you, and your thoughts feel sluggish and thick like glar, too slow to make sense of in the heat of the moment.
Your hands leave his hair and grip his shoulders, pushing him back so he’s sitting properly. You’re surprised he lets you, but Levi is full of surprises.
He lets out a soft, sweet little sound when you straddle him, but he tries to hide it by kissing you again, sloppy and not at all sweet like before.
“Fuck.” His hips grind up into you and you moan softly, feeling how hard he is, aching for attention.
You grind down and he moans lowly.
“Shit. Easy.” He murmurs against your lips as you breathe, panting into his mouth. Your ribs are beginning to ache but you’re enjoying this too much to stop. You’ll be damned before you let something as simple as bodily limitations stop you from enjoying yourself.
Levi, perceptive bastard that he is, notices.
He pulls away from the kiss, saliva connecting you both and coating his chin. He wraps his arms around you and pulls you close, resting his head on your chest and trying to get himself under control.
“We- we’re gonna wait. ‘Til your ribs heal up a bit.” He pants, careful as he lays you down onto the sofa, cooing “easy” at you when you whine in protest.
“We’re gonna watch our movie.” He commands, both you and himself.
He settles behind you, a wall of heat at your back, warping his arms around you.
“You… you want to sort that?” You ask tentatively, referring to the obvious erection pressing into you.
“Gimme a minute” He mumbles, shifting uncomfortably.
“Kenny in a mankini.” You say quickly, spitting out the first thing you could think of that would kill his vibe.
He gags audibly and you cackle.
“Yeah, that’ll do it.” His voice is strained with disgust. Though, he does chuckle.
He settles himself then and you relax in his arms. His gentle breaths on your neck when he nuzzles your hair, when he gently breathes by your ear, make you feel safe.
For now, you just want to stay like this.
Levi’s arms tighten and you know he’s thinking the same thing.
Just for a moment.
Just for a little while longer.