Work Text:
Fists in the air, you let out a groan as you stretched your neck from side to side. "Freaking finally."
Gathering the financial reports, Levi stacked them into a pile and set them aside. "A drink?"
"Nah," you collapsed on the desk, "I'm driving."
He fetched a glass anyway and poured you some wine. "You don't have to go."
"But I want to sleep in tomorrow," you groused, unable to resist a sip, then another, his dexterous fingers setting to ease the knots in your shoulders.
Instantly rewarded with a heady, long-drawn sigh, he offered, "Sleep in here."
"But... Léonie?"
"So what?"
His mouth was on your nape before you could protest any further. A series of alcohol and lust-induced motions later, he was between your thighs on his bed, his palm stifling the lewd cries his tongue was so expertly coaxing out of you.
You were a panting mess by the time he finally hovered over you, pulling the covers over your entangled bodies before he reduced you into another jumble of moans and whimpers he hushed using his lips this time. As you gained purchase on his broad back, clinging onto him for dear life as every stroke almost stole your last breath away, the sudden hissing of the door's hinges ripped you off the rim of little death.
"Papa~" a meek voice creaked into the room's darkness.
Swiftly he cradled your head against his shoulder, drawing the covers even higher. You could hear the violent thrashing of his heart.
"Honey, wait outside. I'll be out in a second."
A strained sob escaped her, but she obeyed nonetheless. The instant the door closed, Levi was gathering his strewn clothes. In the many years you'd known and worked with him, you'd never seen him do anything hastier. He was gone before his gray shirt had even fallen to his waist.
You had almost dozed off when he returned half an hour later. Nothing was said. In silence he slipped beside you, although the deep sigh he released as he ran a hand over his face gave him away.
"Nightmares again?"
Nodding, Levi melted into the heap of pillows. You propped your chin on his chest. It was minutes before he met your gaze, silvery depths roiling with worry and concern as his knuckles reassuringly grazed your cheekbone, somehow still finding it in him to wordlessly apologize to you.
He was too good a man, a father, and you sincerely hoped he knew that. You planted a kiss on his cheek by way of response—chaste but comforting and supportive. In the warmth of your embrace and the lull of his caresses, you both surrendered to exhaustion.
Hours later, soft calls of your name and tingly pecks on your bare arm awoke you. It took a moment to gather your bearings before Levi informed you that he was heading to the gym.
"Okay, I'll see you on Monday," you slurred, drowsy.
"Text me when you get home."
Long minutes after his departure you sat up and began stretching, trying to recall the last time you'd had to do this.
Usually, Levi only asked you to spend the night when his daughter wasn't around. After all, aside from being business partners, you were nothing more than friends with benefits—an arrangement that had for the past couple of years worked in your favor. You didn't want to commit; he wasn’t completely over the passing of his wife still. So it had been easy to find a middle ground. And to preserve that healthy balance, you had kept your distance from his personal life, meddling in it the least of your desires.
The clock struck six thirty, meaning you had a little over an hour to go about your business before Levi came back and Léonie got up. It was a Saturday, but you knew he ensured her rhythm wasn't disrupted during weekends.
Instead of a quick shower, you indulged in a bath, drowning in his lavish tub and the expensive products lining his shelves. The aromas were so heavenly it was with difficulty that you forced yourself to step out half an hour later. Styling your hair and changing into your clothes didn't take nearly as long, and on your way downstairs, you stopped by Levi's study to grab your bag and slip into your heels.
Dawn was yet to break across the sky. You rummaged through the fridge for something to drink before hitting the road. As you spun to lean against the kitchen island, glass to your lips, you were startled by the sight of Léonie. How she'd slunk in there without making the faintest noise was beyond you, and you almost choked on the orange juice in surprise.
Rushing away, she fetched a bottle of water and with a tap to your leg, handed it to you. It was with big, rounded, doe eyes that you were met when you finally caught your breath and looked down at her.
"Are you okay?" she asked. A nod was all you could manage. "Take a seat. Papa always says not to drink or eat while standing."
That she listened to her father's advice and had a commanding presence came as no surprise. Yet for some reason, you were still incapable of speech when she took your hand and led you to the dining table. Settling across from you, elbows on the surface and palms under her cheeks, she eyed you curiously.
She knew you were her father's associate. You'd met a couple of times during 'Take Your Child to Work' days, and a few more when you'd had to drop by for business. But how exactly would you explain your being here this early in the morning when not even her father was around?
Before she could corner you, you beat her to it, "Why are you up this early?"
"I heard Papa leaving for the gym."
You tilted your head, puzzled. You were certain that Levi never skipped his morning exercises. Did this mean that she was up at this hour every day as well?
"Does he know?"
She shook her head. "If I tell him, he'll stop going, and I know he likes working out."
"And he's never caught you?"
"No, you see when the small hand is between seven and eight and the big hand is on five," she explained, pointing to the clock on the wall behind you. "That's when Papa comes back. So I just run to my room and pretend I'm asleep."
You couldn't suppress a chuckle at the pride in her beam. She must have incredible acting skills if she could fool Levi.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just work. I stopped by to pick up some papers."
Eyes narrowed at you, she hummed in suspicion. You had no idea if she knew you'd spent the night there—she was asleep when you'd arrived yesterday—but either way, you redirected the question, "And what do you do while your father's gone?"
"Watch TV. Do you want to watch with me?"
"I would love to, but I have to go," you smiled apologetically before downing the rest of your juice and rising to your feet.
Léonie followed suit, hopping off her seat and scurrying to the living area. Remote in hand, she climbed on the couch, and only then did it occur to you that you hadn't even offered her juice—though it was technically hers—and asked if she was hungry.
"No, I don't have breakfast until Papa comes back."
"All right. Then I'll get going."
"Okay, bye!" She sent you a tiny wave before bringing her attention back to the screen, feet kicking the air as she flipped through the channels.
You weren't certain what kept you lingering by the doorway. Was it the way her enchanting eyes widened when she stumbled upon a show that piqued her interest? Or the way she was taught to respect others' wishes without pressing? Maybe it was the recollection of when you were her age—how you and your siblings would slither out of your beds to scatter around the TV on weekends while your parents still slept. Those times in their company shaped some of your most precious childhood memories. You couldn't help the tightness around your chest as you wondered if she ever got lonely, watching cartoons every morning all by herself, with no one around to cherish these moments with.
It was without your reason's consent that your legs steered you her way. Her face lit up when you asked if her offer still stood.
You came upon a rerun of My Neighbor Totoro. It was already halfway in, but Léonie kept it on when you admitted it was one of your favorites. She followed it with pupils blown wide. She was in awe of the liveliness of every frame, the magic and geniality of the music, and bewildered at the discovery that a grownup like yourself could love kids' drawings so much. Every passing second had her loosening up more and more. Once reluctance eroded completely, she aired every inquiry that crossed her mind, intrigued by the mystical creatures and whimsical events. By the time the credits rolled, she was earnestly praying to be able to ride the Catbus and visit her mother in the sky one day.
At seven twenty-five on the dot, you heard the tick of the lock. Encouraged by your presence, Léonie dashed to welcome her father. His astonishment at her being awake was nothing compared to when he caught sight of you.
"We watched anime together," announced Léonie, burying her face in the crook of his neck upon noticing the realization in his stern gaze.
Not without promising to discuss the meaning of all of this later, Levi sent her to her room to change.
"Just play dumb, Levi. She'll be upset if you stop going to the gym because of her," you said as you approached him, arms snaking around his waist.
Sighing, he mellowed in your hold as your lips teased his pulse, though you could still sense his mind racing with a million scenarios and what-ifs.
"She'll be fine. She only sits around and watches TV."
"Did she give you trouble?"
"She couldn't even if she wanted to." With a final peck on his cheek, you moved to get your bag.
"Stay for breakfast?"
"Another time," you declined with a smile.
Levi hummed but pushed no more. The slight hunch of his shoulders and the pensive look on his face as he saw you out didn't escape you. You weren't quite sure what to make of them. You'd always been under the impression that you were on the same wavelength—that this type of affair was all he'd ever want. But had you been the one who'd built barriers around yourself and prevented him from seeking anything more?
Things had just always been simpler this way. It was the only compromise that had ever worked for you ... Or was this what you had convinced yourself of after a series of disappointments and failed endeavors at anything more serious and worthwhile?
"Levi," you called out right as he opened the door, "do you—"
"Papa!" Léonie emerged in a cute, yellow sundress just in time to berate her father about how unmannerly it was to let guests go without offering them breakfast.
With a shrug that screamed, "She is your problem now," Levi disappeared to change.
She guided you to the dining area once more, urged you to take a seat, and didn't allow you to help as she set up the table and laid all the ingredients on the countertop for her father.
The meal was spent lightheartedly, with Léonie filling you in on everything she remembered from her six years on this earth. No matter how gravely Levi ordered her to eat first and then speak, she merely behaved for a moment before eventually becoming overwhelmed with the abundance of adventures she had to share.
"Oh, and I do ballet!"
"That's lovely! So did I when I was your age."
She gasped. "There's a dance at the studio next month. Do you want to come?"
As flattered as you were that a single morning was all it took for Léonie to warm up to you, it was all a bit too much. Levi was quick to perceive your reluctance and promptly came to your rescue:
"You've already invited five people, Léonie. I'm sure you're not allowed to bring in that many."
"Then I'll just ask one of them not to come anymore."
You could hardly repress your laughter as Levi patiently explained why that would be rude, Léonie sweetly tilting her head, failing to comprehend why he was making such a big deal out of it.
"Uncle Kenny doesn't even care about ballet," she pouted.
"Then why did you invite him?"
Out of counters to her father's point, Léonie sank in her seat with a huff, arms tautly crossed over her chest, but instantly cheered up when you promised her you'd try to make it.
When breakfast was over, it was with a warm hug that she bid you goodbye before rushing to tidy up her room and prepare for their visit to her grandmother. The moment you found yourself alone with Levi by the door again, you nestled in his embrace, drained.
"I'm sorry. She's a handful."
"She certainly didn't take after you."
A chuckle rumbled across his chest as his hands settled on the small of your back to press you closer to him, his lips on your temple. The hum of his heart was steady as he whispered, "But thank you. This is the happiest I've seen her in a while."
In the end, you would keep your promise to Léonie and attend the dance, only it would be as her father's girlfriend.