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Leviathan was overly aware of how close you were standing next to him as the two of you stared into the endless depths of the “deep sea” tank at the aquarium you’d asked him to. You were close enough for him to smell the lingering scent of your lavender shampoo. It was familiar, comforting. The atmosphere in the room helped him not panic from being so close to you; the blue glow coming from the tank, the primary light in the dark room, reminded him of his room at the House of Lamentation.
He looked at you from the corner of his eye, trying to see if you were enjoying yourself. The look he caught on your face had him fully turning his head to take you in. The undulating blue light made you look like a siren silently calling to him with that small smile gracing your face. It reminded him of when you’d hang out in his room, and the reminder made him ache with missing you even though you were standing right next to him. He’d missed you so much. There’d been countless times he’d gone to your room to ask if you wanted to hang out, only to be reminded your room was empty, you weren’t there. But, now, there you were, next to him, where you should be.
In a burst of bravery, he took your hand from where it hung at your side. Levi realized his hand was clammy as soon as it wrapped around your own. He waited for you to drop his clammy hand in disgust, but you didn’t. You looked down at your joined hands then looked up at him, the small smile on your face blooming into something joyful and bright as you gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I missed you, Levi.”
You'd missed him too. Levi felt his heart stutter at your words, mind blanking. He wanted to wrap you in his arms. He wanted to kiss you. He wanted to show you just how much he’d missed you too, but you wouldn’t want that. You two didn’t have that kind of relationship.
He’d been staring at you dumbfounded for too long, long enough for you to mistake his silence for discomfort. Your face fell at his lack of response. As soon as he found his words and opened his mouth, you slipped your hand from his. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” You wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I, um, have to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
You rushed from the room before he could tell you he was the furthest thing from uncomfortable when he got to be around you. He gently thumped his head on the glass of the tank. He should have just told you. He should have just said the words; the words he’d never been able to say to you for fear of rejection. You could have any of them. Why would you want him?
“Leviathan?”
His head jerked up, looking around the room; it was still empty. Plus, that wasn’t your voice, that was… the fish floating in front of him. “What?”
“You’re Leviathan, right?” He nodded at the little silver fish, and it made a sound Levi could only describe as a squeal, making him wince. “It is him! He came for them!”
A large school of tittering fish, the same kind as the little one, swam over, all crowding in front of him, talking over each other.
“Is the human with him?”
“Are they together.”
“Did the human cry again?”
Cry? Levi tapped on the glass, silencing the school. “What are any of you talking about?”
The fish that first approached him swam forward again. “The human, we’ve seen them a lot. They talk about you.”
He was confused. “What do you mean? Why would they?”
The fish made a sound equivalent to a sigh. “The human comes here a lot and pretends to talk to you. We thought you broke their heart because they’d cry a lot, but you’re back for them! We’re excited to finally meet you.”
Levi just stared, dumbfounded once again. “How would I even break their heart?”
Can fish look at someone like they’re stupid? Because Levi was pretty sure over a hundred fish were looking at him like he was stupid. “They love you, duh.”
Crossing his arms, Levi glared at the fish. He didn’t know how the fish knew about him or how he felt about you. Maybe Lotan spilled the beans to some sea dweller, and now the whole ocean knew, and then the information somehow made it back to this aquarium. No matter how they found out, they weren’t being very nice. “I don’t really appreciate you messing with me.”
“Oh, sorry, I thought it’d be funny to try and scare you.” Your voice made him jump, and he spun to face you. “I can’t believe you heard me. I thought I was being so quiet.” You were smiling again, but there was something different about it now.
He shook his head quickly. “No, not you; I was talking to the fish. They’re trying to mess with me.”
If the light in the room had been brighter, Levi would have seen the color drain from your face. “I didn’t know you could talk to fish.”
“Yeah, but I wish I couldn’t right now.” He shot the murmuring school of fish another glare.
You walked up to the tank to peer at the fish, eyes wide. “Wh- what are they saying?”
If Levi hadn’t been distracted by you tapping your fingers together, something you only did when you were incredibly nervous, he probably would have made something up; he didn’t want to make you uncomfortable by telling you the fish thought you were in love with him. But, he was distracted, so it slipped out unfiltered. “They’re trying to get me to believe you’re in love with me.”
You froze. “What?”
Levi panicked. “I’m sorry! I’m sure that’s an uncomfortable thought for you. I mean, why would you be in love with-“
You weren’t even listening to him, too focused on looking at the fish in betrayal. “Why would you tell him? I didn’t even know you could understand me!”
His rambling halted. “Why would the fish- what?” There was a course of giggles from the fish.
You ran a hand down your face. “Ugh, I’m sorry Levi. This isn’t how I wanted you to find out. I’m sure this is really uncomfortable for you. I understand if you want to leave now.” You looked like you were on the verge of tears.
Levi had to pinch the back of his hand to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. “Wait. They’re telling the truth?”
There was whispering from the fish. “This guy isn’t too bright, is he?”
You gave him a weak smile. “Uh, yeah. They’re telling the truth. I love you, Levi.”
Hearing you say those words to him was sweeter music than his favorite anime opening. You loved him? You really loved him! This time he didn’t hold himself back from wrapping his arms around you. “I love you too. I love you so much it hurts.”
Wrapping your arms around his waist, you pressed your cheek to his chest. He could feel your heart pounding just as hard as his. “Really?”
He pulled you away from him slightly, cupping your face in his hands. “Yes!” Levi kissed you. He never thought he’d get to kiss you. He never thought he’d be the one to kiss you. Your lips were soft against his as you kissed him back, wrapping your arms around his neck to hold him closer.
The moment would have been perfect if it weren’t for the chorus of cheering from the school of fish like their favorite characters had finally kissed or something. Well, for the fish, that kind of was the case.
You pulled away, eyes slightly misty as you smiled up at him. He brushed away a tear from your cheek as it fell. “What’s wrong.”
Laughing, you rubbed the back of your hand against your eye. “It’s just, I’m so happy. I was so lonely without you, Levi. Do you know how many times I wanted to hang out in your room and just watch anime next to you?”
Levi’s smile was soft. “I’m guessing about as many times as I went to your room to ask if you wanted to watch anime with me only to be reminded you weren’t there?” He stroked your cheek, and you leaned into his touch.
“You really did that?” Your eyes were sparkling with an emotion he’d seen before, one he could never place, but now he knew what that emotion was. It was love. He pinched himself again just to be double sure he wasn’t dreaming.
He crashed his lips to yours again because he could do that. He could just kiss you when he felt the urge because you loved him. You loved him! Levi couldn’t help the giddy laugh that escaped him. “So, we’re dating now, right? I’m your boyfriend?”
You snorted. “Are you sure that’s not too normie for you?”
“For you, I’m willing to be a bit of a normie.” There were a bunch of confused ‘aww’s from the fish, none of them understanding what a “normie” was, but they knew he'd said something sweet based on his tone.
“Then, yes, you’re my boyfriend, Levi.” He scooped you up, swinging you around as he kissed your face. Your giggles were music to his ears. Footsteps echoed in the room as another aquarium goer entered, interrupting your celebration.
He set you down, smiling at you like the love-drunk normie he was being. You took his hand, entwining your fingers. “Should we get out of here? Maybe go home and watch some anime?”
“Yes, let’s go home.” The urge to kiss you washed over him again, so he leaned forward and kissed you. He could do that because he was your boyfriend. Levi raised a hand back towards the tank as you left. “Thank you, fish!”
You and Levi were too busy looking at each other to notice the room’s new occupant giving you a weird look for trying to talk to fish.