Chapter Text
The game isn't good.
...No, okay, that's not quite right. The game is pretty good, he just can't enjoy it right now because there's someone in his room and it's hard to get immersed in something when you know someone is there, even if they're on the couch by his TV, several feet out of his view and on their phone with the volume on mute.
Levi saves the game. He removes his headphones and leaves them on the desk in a mess of tangled cords before pushing his chair out and getting up. This isn't working.
(_) lifts their head up, phone held sideways. "I thought you were playing your game."
"I dunno. I'm not in a gaming mood."
Silence as they set their phone aside and scoot over to make room for him. "That's a first." The corners of their mouth turn up. "Honestly? Me neither."
Levi sinks onto the couch beside them. "..."
"..."
"..."
"...Um, what's that?" (_) breaks the uncomfortable silence with a few rushed words. Levi picks his head up to see them pointing at the Azuki-tan stress ball displayed proudly on his shelf.
The words stick in his throat for a moment. "Oh, um. Give me a minute." He walks over to his gaming setup and picks something up from his desk.
He comes back to show them. "The one on the shelf's for display. This is the one I actually use." He opens his hand to show the Azuki-tan from earlier, worn around the edges from plenty of squeezing.
"It's cute."
"Right!? Azuki-tan's Ruri-chan's sidekick." His face lights up. "There's lore reasons for why they're a pastry, of course. In the first season—"
...He gets about a paragraph in before (_) leans their head against the back of the couch with a sigh. "Levi."
"...Huh?"
"Um, sorry for interrupting, but… I have no idea what you're talking about."
Levi's heart sinks into the pit of his stomach.
Of course they don't, you disgusting weeb. Slow down and shut up for once in your life.
(It's so not fair.)
Life is unfair.
(I'm tired of this.)
And everyone's tired of you.
...
"...Nevermind, then." His voice comes out stiff as he fidgets, staring at his lap. Even the silence is suddenly too loud, and he wants to hide.
"..."
"..."
This was a mistake. Letting them into his room was a mistake. He considers kicking them out. Maybe being alone would— No, he'll just end up crying.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
(_)'s voice is quiet when they speak; hesitant, nervous. "...Can't we watch it together instead?"
...What?
They continue, words spilling out quickly like a broken faucet. "I… I want to know what you're talking about."
The world slows, then stops. Levi picks his head up, almost meeting their eyes before shifting his gaze away, toward the TV, because eye contact feels way too intimate right now and he's not sure his heart can handle it. He's held entire conversations while staring at a table before. It's fine. This is fine.
"...Oh. Okay." He doesn't say anything else, just grabs the remote, switches the TV on, and opens Hexflix. He owns the deluxe edition, of course, but it's a physical collectible and this is easier anyway.
"I hope you like it." The words come out rushed, as he suppresses everything else he wants to say but shouldn't. Like what the first episode's gonna be about. Like details they should keep an eye out for. Like—
Season 1, Episode 1. He hits play.
Season 1, Episode 6. Levi hits pause on the end credits. "So—"
"I—"
"Sorry. Go on."
Their voice is all but a whisper. "I think I understand why you like Ruri-chan so much."
Eye contact is hard, so he stares at the back of the couch. "You— You do?"
"Maybe."
"..."
"It's because she's an outsider, isn't she?"
"...Yeah. She's—"
"She's, taken seriously in the Devildom. Her demon form's that of a mature, confident woman. When she speaks, everyone listens. And—" Oh sweet Hatsune Miku, (_)'s sniffling and even Levi of all people can tell they're either crying or about to because their cheeks are wet and if he's gonna be honest, he kinda feels like crying himself.
Levi adds on to their words, playing with his hands absentmindedly as his mind wanders far away. "...But when she leaves the Devildom for the human world, she transforms into a smaller, human girl. And because of her appearance, no one takes her seriously."
"They all— They all treat her like a kid! Like she's no one important, no one worth listening to, no one that has anything of worth to, to say or talk about or anything at all." (_)'s voice quavers.
"She has to work several times as hard to accomplish what she set out to do." Levi hugs his legs to his chest. "Because of something she can't control, because of something that isn't even her fault."
"..."
"..."
"...Yeah. I… I think I can understand that."
"Me too. Even— Even if I'll never be as cool as Ruri-chan, or Henry. Like how in Season 2, Episode 8 she—"
"Shhh."
"Hey—"
"No spoilers," (_) murmurs.
They reach for the remote at the same time, fingers bumping together. Levi yelps.
"Gah! Sorry!"
"It's okay."
(_) unpauses Ruri-chan, letting the end credits scroll to completion. "Mind if I stay here tonight?"
"As— As long as you're quiet. Don't let anyone see you, either. I don't want them to misunderstand, or assume that I'm someone gross like Asmo, or—!"
"I'll borrow the couch. You'll hardly know I'm there, and I just need a quiet place to sleep." A chuckle. "Mind if I hold your hand for a bit? It's okay to, not hold hands. I just kinda want to, and figured it couldn't hurt to ask."
"Um, oh— okay. I mean, it's not like I mind. I don't think Asmo's held a hand in his life, even if it is kind of a normie thing—"
"I mean—"
"Three more episodes of Ruri-chan, and I'll let you hold my hand."
"Deal."
Episode 7's opening starts to play. (_) scoots a little closer.
Levi lets them.