AN: This chapter has very mild underage stuff. It's mostly just a ton of humor and fluff. Also, I'm mostly following the manga with my own adaptions, so most of this right now is taking place before The Birth of Levi.
"Hey, are you the one I'm searching for? Something is telling me to stay by you." -Amalee
The next few days found Kiara and Kyori settling into their new home. The twins took to sleeping on the sofa until Levi found a mattress for them. When he did, they spent the day cleaning it and airing it out. It was decided that they would sleep in Levi's room because it was bigger than Farlan's and there was really no other place to put a third mattress.
During the day, the twins would clean while Levi and Farlan went out. They had learned right away that Levi had an obsession with cleanliness and had decided together to do what they could to help out.
After they cleaned the house from top to bottom, Levi and Farlan would usually be home soon after. The first time they had cleaned, Levi had spent the whole night teaching the girls how to clean up to his standards. Kiara and Kyori had gone to bed exhausted that night. They had made sure to never give Levi the opportunity to repeat the lecture.
After dinner, the girls would play music for Levi and Farlan. Kyori would play her ocarina and Kiara would sing or play her lyre. Then, Kiara and Kyori would take a bath.
Every night, without fail, Levi and Farlan would dry the their hair. Eventually, to save time at night, Levi taught Farlan how to French braid as well. Kyori had had to sit on the floor all day as Farlan attempted to braid her hair. Kiara had sat and watched them with amusement lurking in her eyes, but Kyori hadn't minded. Her head wasn't as sensitive as Kiara's and she liked Farlan. His personality was much more relaxed than Levi's, which helped Kyori relax too. Her braid was often done in the most basic way.
At Kiara's request for a different hairstyle, Levi started to Dutch braid her hair after experimenting with it. Kiara had loved the new style and liked having the slight difference with her twin.
Once the braids were finished, Farlan would tell the kids a story. They would curl up on the sofa with Levi as Farlan spun tales to entertain the girls.
Kyori eventually grew to trust Levi and Farlan after half a year of living with them, but never really warmed to Levi. The way he never smiled unnerved her.
Kiara never seemed to mind it though. She would use Levi's shoulder as a pillow during Farlan's stories and rest her feet in her sister's lap. Levi didn't complain about it and would just sip his tea.
One night after the twins turned thirteen, their family, because that is what they were, grew bigger.
"They're really late," Kiara noted, looking outside. She could see a nearby vent. Levi and Farlan where usually back by sunset.. But it was well into the night now.
"They have been out late before." Kyori shrugged, poking her head out of the kitchen where she was cooking stew and making bread.
"I know. It just worries me." Kiara sighed, flopping on the couch. She had already bathed and was wearing one of Levi's shirts as a night dress. She had found out before her bath that Kyori's and her pajamas were dirty and had done laundry, but her clothes were still wet. It wasn't the first time she had stolen one of his shirts to sleep in.
Kiara sighed heavily, running her hands through her damp hair. She was bored. There was no cleaning left to do until after dinner.
Just as she was about to whine for Kyori to entertain her somehow, the door burst open.
"Fina-" Kiara stopped herself as Levi came in, carrying a teenage girl on his back. "What's going on? Is she okay?" Kiara shot up from the couch, rushing over to them as Farlan followed him in.
"She's starving to death," Farlan answered, taking the unconscious girl off Levi's back and laying her on the sofa.
"She's probably dehydrated too," Levi added as Farlan went into the kitchen.
"Where did you find her?" Kiara asked, kneeling beside the sofa.
"On the streets. She's not too far gone yet. She'll recover."
"Do we know her name?" Kiara stroked the girl's dark auburn hair gently.
"Isabel Magnolia." Levi frowned.
"Magnolia? She has two names?" Kiara blinked.
"No, Magnolia is her surname. It's a name that family members share," Levi explained, well aware of the fact that Kiara's amnesia meant she sometimes didn't understand basic things.
"What's yours and Farlan's surnames?" Kiara asked curiously.
"My surname is Church," Farlan answered, coming back to the living room with a bowl of stew and a cup of water.
"I don't have one," Levi responded, seeing Kiara looking up at him expectantly.
"We don't have one either," Kyori added, following Farlan with a tray of bowls filled with stew and some bread.
Kiara blinked before frowning in disappointment. It would have been nice to have a surname. She watched Farlan shake Isabel awake.
"Where.. Where am I?" Isabel mumbled, sitting up.
"You're home," Kyori said, kneeling beside Kiara.
"Home?" The word looked like it sounded foreign on her tongue.
"We'll discuss that more later. For now, drink some water and eat a little stew." Farlan frowned, holding the water up to her lips. "Just don't drink or eat too fast. It will make you sick."
Kiara grabbed her sister's and Levi's hands, watching Farlan help Isabel drink and eat. She was worried about the girl who barely seemed to be able to keep her eyes open.
Isabel managed to drink most of the water and eat a third of the stew before falling asleep again.
"Are you sure she's going to be okay?" Kiara asked nervously. What if they couldn't save her? What if Isabel died? Kiara's anxiety started increasing as worried thoughts plagued her. Her heart seemed to be trying to beat its way out of her chest. The girl didn't even notice when Levi's fingers shifted in her hand to rest against her inner wrist.
"It looks bad now, but she will pull through." Levi tugged Kiara to her feet. "Your hair is getting my shirt wet."
Kiara frowned, not wanting to leave Isabel and Farlan, but let herself be led to the bathroom. Levi started to dry her hair, knowing the girl liked the routine. He wanted to distract her from her worry over the newest member of their family. He had felt her pulse racing in the living room and she looked ready to start hyperventilating soon. If he could avoid a full blown panic attack, he would.
"Is Isabel going to sleep in our room?" Kiara asked, slightly breathless as she watched Levi in the mirror. The comforting feeling of the routine was already starting to calm her down.
"No, she's going to room with Farlan once we find her a mattress."
"That's going to be a tight fit. Farlan's room barely has space to walk as it is."
"We'll make it work. Stop worrying so much, brat." Levi tugged on a damp lock of hair gently.
Kiara made a soft noise of protest and pouted. "It's really hard to not worry about her."
"Try. Your anxiety is putting me on edge too." Levi frowned at the kid.
"Stop scowling so much," Kiara muttered, turning around poking the spot between his eyebrows.
Levi's scowl deepened as he rolled his eyes, changing the subject. "Is the laundry dry yet?" he asked, knowing that she was wearing his shirt because her clothes had just been washed.
"No. I just set it out on the line a little while ago." Kiara pouted again, her gaze finding his. She had only grown a handful of inches in the past three years, so she often had to tilt her head back or look through her lashes to see him when they were this close. This time, her midnight eyes looked up at him through dark red lashes.
Levi's hands stilled for a moment as he looked down at the girl before he quickly turned her around. "Once your hair is dry, I'll get you another shirt." His voice was a little gruffer than usual, but Kiara brushed it off.
"Alright." Kiara relaxed slightly, leaning back against Levi.
"Oi, it's harder to dry your hair like this." Levi frowned, pulling back.
Kiara grinned at his reflection and leaned forward again obediently, humming softly. It didn't take Levi long to dry her hair and soon, his fingers were deftly twisting her hair into its usual braid.
Once he was done, Kiara turned around and lifted her arms. Levi arched an eyebrow as the girl rested her arms on his shoulders, figuring out what she wanted immediately. He picked her up, her arms and legs slipping around him automatically. She enjoyed being carried by him or Farlan when she was feeling tired or bad. It was comforting to her. Right now, she was feeling both.
Levi carried Kiara to their bedroom and sat her on his bed, earning him a pout. "Relax, I'm just getting you a fresh shirt. I'm sure that one doesn't feel comfortable sticking to your back like that."
"Not particularly, but I didn't notice until you pointed it out," Kiara huffed, rolling her eyes.
Levi arched an eyebrow at her as he pulled a clean shirt out of the dresser. "Get changed, brat," he muttered, tossing the shirt on her lap and turning around to give her privacy.
Kiara stood up and quickly did as she was told. She placed the damp shirt in the hamper once she was changed. "I'm done," she announced, tapping his shoulder.
Levi picked her up again, her head falling on his shoulder. "Are you feeling better yet?" he grumbled.
"Yeah... I'm not feeling as anxious. I'm still worried about Isabel, but I trust you. If you say all she needs is time to get better, then I'll believe that."
Levi rocked the kid absently. "Good. Everything is going to be fine."
Kiara yawned, her body slumped in Levi's arms. "If you keep doing that, I'm going to fall asleep," she mumbled.
"That's not an incentive to stop. It's almost midnight. You should be sleeping." Levi rested his head on hers.
"I haven't eaten dinner yet," Kiara protested, sulking.
Levi sighed and nodded. "After dinner you should go to bed though."
"Alright," Kiara mumbled, yawning again.
Levi carried the child into the living room. He sat down on the floor with Kiara in his lap. Farlan and Kyori were almost done eating and looked up at the pair.
"Where were you?" Kyori asked, frowning. She put the other two bowls in front of them.
"Kiara was getting my shirt wet with her hair," Levi said in answer as Kiara started eating the now cold stew. Kiara sent him a grateful look. She didn't want her sister to worry about her just because she had been anxious for no reason.
Farlan raised his eyebrow, but didn't comment. "Do you kids still want your story tonight?"
"Yes," Kyori said immediately.
Kiara looked hesitantly at Levi. She had told him she would try sleeping after dinner. Levi met her gaze, frowning slightly.
"Go ahead." He knew Kiara would fall asleep during the story anyways.
Kiara smiled faintly and nodded, turning back to her stew.
"Kyori, have you bathed yet?" Levi asked, taking a bite of his own food.
"No, I was waiting until after dinner." Kyori frowned.
Levi sighed; this was going to be a long night.
"I'll take care of Kyori after the story," Farlan offered, seeing how tired both Kiara and Levi were.
Levi nodded, his arm slipping around Kiara's waist as he felt her sliding off his lap. Kiara jerked awake again and smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry." She rubbed her eye tiredly and ate more of her stew.
"Maybe you should start your story," Levi suggested after a moment. Kiara had finished most of her stew and seemed to be struggling to stay awake.
Farlan grinned and launched into a story, using the four of them as characters. Kiara had barely finished her stew before she sagged forward again, Farlan's voice lulling her to sleep. Levi turned the girl in his arms and let her head rest against his shoulder. He waited for Farlan to finish his tale to stand up.
"I'm going to put Kiara to bed. Kyori, try to hurry in the bath. It's late." Levi glanced at Isabel who was still sleeping soundly.
"I'll take care of them. You should get some sleep too, Levi. You were up all night last night." Farlan raised an eyebrow.
"I need to bathe before I go to bed."
"Take one before me. You only take five minutes." Kyori leaned against Farlan, not feeling tired at all. "I want to stay awake and watch over Isabel a little longer."
Levi raised an eyebrow before shrugging. He carried Kiara back to their room and laid her on the mattress the twins shared before covering the small teenager with her blanket.
Kiara shifted in her sleep and opened an eye tiredly. "Levi?" she mumbled.
"I'm here."
Kiara yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Mm... Goodnight." Her words were barely audible, but Levi caught them anyways.
He sat beside her for a moment, his fingers brushing over stray baby hairs that framed her face. "Goodnight, brat."
Over the next couple of weeks, the Farlan, Kiara, Kyori, and Levi tended to Isabel, helping her eat and bathe until the teenager had gained her strength. Kiara and Kyori particularly enjoyed taking care of her because of her easily excitable personality. Isabel was already like a sister to the two girls.
"Hey, Isabel, how old are you?" Kiara asked, carrying out lunch for the older girl.
Isabel was sitting up, still looking sleepily. While she could maintain consciousness now, she tired easily.
"I think I'm sixteen." Isabel smiled at Kiara as the teenager set down the food in front of her. "How about you and Kyori?"
"We're thirteen." Kiara grinned. Isabel was the first person they had met so close to their own age.
"Huh.. How about Farlan and Levi?" Isabel asked curiously, eating the soup.
"Levi is nineteen and Farlan is twenty. At least, that's what they told us." Kiara smiled warmly as Kyori came out of the kitchen.
"Levi looks a lot younger," Kyori shook her head. "He doesn't have any right to keep calling us brats. He looks like he's only sixteen himself."
"I have a feeling that Levi doesn't actually age," Kiara laughed, curling up on the couch next to Isabel.
"Maybe big brother is a vampire like in that story Farlan told us yesterday," Isabel giggled.
Kiara and Kyori looked at each other in surprise. "Levi is your brother?"
"Not really, but he saved me. He's seems like an older brother with the way he takes care of us." Isabel shrugged, yawning.
"That's a.. fair... point," Kyori acknowledged, wrinkling her nose slightly. "I don't think he gives off a brotherly vibe though with his permanent scowl."
"I don't think you can talk. You rarely show expressions yourself," Kiara teased her sister.
Kiara burst out laughing as Levi walked in. His eyes narrowed as the other two girls starting giggling as well.
"Glad to see you are feeling better." Levi rolled his eyes as Farlan walked in holding groceries.
"But you're definitely right about that," Kiara agreed with her twin still laughing, tears pooling in her eyes as she stood up. She walked over to Levi, still giggling, and poked him between the eyebrows which had become a habit of hers.
"What?" Levi frowned and furrowed his eyebrows more.
"You scowl too much," she giggled.
"This, children, is why you shouldn't make disagreeable faces. Levi did and his face froze that way," Farlan teased.
Levi's scowl darkened. "I would advise you to shut the fuck up. I don't want the kids to see me murder you."
Farlan held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, still smiling at his best friend. Levi stormed off, shaking his head in annoyance.
Kiara stifled another laugh. "I'm going to see if I can calm him down."
"I think I'm in love," Isabel suddenly said.
"With who?" Kyori blinked, looking up at Isabel.
"Farlan," Isabel replied immediately, no trace of embarrassment on her face as Farlan looked over at her. "I like bravery and a sense of humor... And that comment was funny and a death wish."
Farlan's mouth fell open, making Isabel laugh again.
"Wait..." Kiara paused, hesitating in the hallway. "What's 'in love' mean?"
"Ah.." Farlan rubbed the back of his head embarrassed. "Well, love is when you are... Uh.. Very fond of someone. You like them a lot."
"I know what love is. I love you, Kyori, Isabel, and Levi," Kiara interjected, "But what is 'in' love? I thought love was love?"
"There are lots of different types of love," Farlan knelt down in front of Kiara, "There's love you hold for a friend, the love between family... And there is also a love you give to a special person."
"A special person?" Kiara frowned, looking between her family members. "Who?"
"That's different for each person," Isabel explained, a bit stunned by how naive the child was. "Like I'm in love with Farlan. He's my special person."
Farlan jerked his head around to look at Isabel. "I thought you were joking!" he sputtered.
Isabel gave him a confused look and rolled her eyes. "Idiot." She shook her head. "Kiara, the point is, your special someone is someone you need to find on your own."
"How will I know when I find them?" Kiara tilted her head.
Farlan frowned faintly. "Ah.. You're only thirteen. You don't have to worry about it just yet.. But the person you fall in love with.. Its really hard to describe it."
"It's someone who will make doing this enjoyable," Isabel chimed in, standing up and walking over to them. She knelt next to Farlan who looked over at her questioningly. Isabel grinned at him lopsidedly and pressed her lips to his.
Kiara raised her eyebrows in stunned silence as she watched the two kiss. Farlan didn't even have time to return the heated kiss before Isabel broke it and smiled at the young girl.
"Only do that if you're in love with the person." She grinned, tousling Farlan's blond hair.
"That's enough, perverts," Levi growled, coming out of his room and picking Kiara up. "Kiara is still a child. She doesn't need to be witnessing your sex lives."
Kiara blinked as she was situated on Levi's hip, looking at him curiously.
"Aw, don't be such a stick in the mud," Isabel retorted, rolling her eyes.
Levi scowled and shook his head. "I'm bringing Kiara on a walk to get away from you disgusting perverts. Farlan, explain Kiara's amnesia to Isabel."
Farlan blinked, nodding as Levi quickly left, still carrying Kiara.
"So about that kiss?" Farlan looked at Isabel as Kyori, who had been unusually silent, groaned. "Only kiss someone you're in love with?"
Isabel laughed and kissed him again. Kyori pouted and shook her head. She hadn't thought Kiara wouldn't know about falling in love.. But then, even their parents hadn't been in love.. There was nowhere to have learned it before Kyori had sealed her sister's memories. The underground city wasn't exactly awash with couples in love either. The books Kyori had once read to Kiara had had some fairy tale romances, but Kiara clearly didn't remember them...and now that she thought about it, Farlan's stories were all action and adventure. Sighing, the girl stood up and went to prepare dinner.
"So, did you notice Levi's behavior?" Isabel murmured to Farlan once Kyori was out of ear shot.
"Ah... You mean how protective he is?" Farlan furrowed his brows.
"That.. And the look in his eyes." Isabel grinned.
Farlan blinked, his hand playing absentmindedly with Isabel's hair. "You don't think..."
"And he called us perverted," Isabel snorted.
Levi carried Kiara in silence for a long while, the teenager resting her head on his shoulder. Wanting some fresher air, he started making his way to a large vent.
"Levi..." Kiara mumbled, breaking the silence.
"Mm?"
"What is falling in love? I still don't understand it." Kiara nuzzled closer into his neck.
Levi tightened his grip on her slightly, trying to figure out a response to her question. "Falling in love is something... It's a feeling someone gets when they want to spend the rest of their lives with one person. It isn't just love for a family member or friend. It goes beyond that."
"So, does that mean I'm in love with you?" Kiara tilted her head, looking up at Levi.
"Me?!" Levi stared at the girl he was holding, his eyebrows shooting up.
"Well... You said its not a family thing, so I'm not in love with Kyori... and Farlan and Isabel are in love, so it can't be them either." Kiara shrugged, watching him innocently.
Levi pointedly looked away. "That doesn't mean you're in love with me, brat. There's a lot that goes into being in love. Its not just something that happens through the process of elimination. Besides, people who are in love do physical.. Things.." He winced.
"Like what?" Kiara blinked.
Levi held back a groan of frustration. "Like what Isabel did to Farlan... Most of the time, people in love will do that kind of thing. They touch a lot and do shit like cuddling and stuff."
Kiara frowned for a moment before a smile lit up her face. She leaned up and pressed her lips sloppily to his cheek. "Now, I'm in love with you," she cheered, "we already cuddle and stuff, right?"
Levi froze mid-step, his mind going completely blank. It took him a moment to recover and when he did, he carefully avoided looking at the girl.
"Kiara, you need to wait until after you're in love to kiss someone. You just can't kiss them and then be in love," he explained in a strained voice, "Also, you're too young to be in love."
"Aw..." Kiara pouted, falling silent. She went back to nuzzling in Levi's neck as he resumed walking. She didn't understand why she couldn't be in love with Levi, but she supposed it was an adult thing.
Once they reached the vent, Levi sat on a nearby rock, holding Kiara tightly in his arms. It was probably dirty, but, for once, he didn't care. He was too concerned with the conversation he had just had with Kiara.
Kiara looked up at the sky, smiling at the colors. The sun must have been setting because the sky was painted with reds, oranges, and pinks.
"Hey.. Levi?"
"What is it?" Levi rested his head on Kiara's, breathing in the somewhat fresher air.
"Well.. What is sex? You told Isabel and Farlan that I shouldn't be seeing their sex lives? I've never heard that word before."
Levi nearly choked on his spit. He had really dug himself into a hole... But Kiara was thirteen. He supposed she would have to learn about it sooner or later.
"Fuck... Sex is something people who love each other do. It's how babies are made," he muttered, trying to stay calm because this was the most embarrassing thing that he had ever had to do. Seeing her blank face, Levi groaned. Of course she wouldn't know about babies. She hardly left the house and she had amnesia.
"Shit... Okay, basics first. You know how you and your sister bleed every month?" He asked, desperately wishing to be anywhere else.
"Yeah?" Kiara remembered the day that had started very clearly. She had been doing laundry outside when Kyori had freaked out, telling her there was blood coming from between her legs. Kiara had freaked out too, worried she was going to die. Levi and Farlan had ran outside, saw both girls screaming, and the blood. Farlan had been the one to take both girls into the bathroom and find old cloths for Kiara to use to absorb the blood. He had also tried to explain what was happening to her, but had done a very poor job.
"Right, so, from what I understand, that's your body's way of preparing to have a child or some shit. If a man and a woman have sex, then the woman can get pregnant. Pregnant means she's carrying a baby, which is a tiny human, in here," he pointed to her stomach, "after around nine months, the baby comes out of the woman-"
"Wait, the baby comes out of her?! How?!" Kiara demanded, looking confused and scared.
"Its called giving birth, Kiara. The baby comes out of the same place you bleed from, your vagina." Levi ran his fingers through his hair. "You were born like that. We all were. The woman who gives birth is called a mother and the father is the one she had sex with."
"Okay... That doesn't sound too bad.. But what is sex anyways? Why does it result in a baby?" She tilted her head.
Levi groaned in frustration and bopped her on the head. "Sex is where a man puts his... Ugh... Men don't have vaginas. We have something else and we.. Fuck." Levi pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Is sex that bad?" Kiara tilted her head.
"No. Sex isn't bad," Levi grumbled, "Its actually good, but only if you love the person and its not forced. If it's forced, it's rape and that is fucking terrible thing. If anyone forces you to have sex, tell me so I can fucking kill them."
"Okay... But I still don't know what it is." Kiara poked Levi's cheek.
"Damn it. Fuck. Okay, sex is where a man puts his dick inside a woman's vagina, alright? After a while something called semen comes out of the man's dick and it goes inside the woman. Depending on the circumstance, that semen can help create a baby inside the woman's womb," Levi burst out, glaring up at the sky.
"Oh... That sounds weird and gross." Kiara wrinkled her nose. "Why do people do it?"
"Because it can feel good and it's a way to express love," Levi groaned, "and some people want to have brats running around the place. You are not allowed to have sex until you're forty."
Kiara blinked several times and tilted her head, indigo eyes watching Levi. "So," she said carefully, "when I'm forty, I can have sex with you to show you that I love you?"
The innocent question made Levi want to scream for not realizing it was coming. "Kiara, that's something people who are in love do," he groaned.
"Why can't I be in love with you when I'm forty? I already love you the most," Kiara protested, pouting.
"Fucking hell," Levi shook his head, giving up, "You know what, fine. If you are in love with me when you're forty, fine. We'll see where it goes from there. For now, no more questions like this. I don't think I can handle anymore."
Kiara laughed softly, her lapis lazuli eyes twinkling. "Um.. I have one more question though."
Levi looked at the girl with a glare that would have sent grown men running for their lives, but Kiara only smiled sweetly. "This is the last one I'm answering," he warned.
"Are Farlan and Isabel going to have sex and a baby?"
Levi cursed and glared down at Kiara, seeing her eyes glittering in mirth. "You just wanted to fucking torture me that time, didn't you?" he demanded.
"A bit," Kiara admitted, her smile widening, "I'm sorry."
"No, you're not." Levi rolled his eyes, pinching her cheek.
Kiara only giggled, turning her head up to see the sky again. It was well into twilight by now.
After a moment of silence, Kiara shifted slightly. "I can't ask questions, right?" she asked in a teasing voice, "but can I make a request?"
Levi rolled his eyes and resisted the urge to point out that that had been two questions. "What is it?"
"I want to try what Isabel did to Farlan. Just a little, please?" She tilted her head up at him as Levi gave her a dirty look.
"Are you fucking joking?" he asked darkly, feeling his patience wearing thin.
"Not this time. I'm really curious. I don't want to ask Farlan, Isabel, or Kyori to show me either. I would rather you did." Kiara bit her lower lip. In their home, they placed a high standard on hygiene and cleanliness, but mouths seemed dirty. So, why had Isabel and Farlan pressed their mouths together? It seemed so unhygienic to Kiara.
Levi paused, staring at Kiara for a moment. He wasn't going to tell Kiara that kissing her sister like Farlan and Isabel had was a no go, at least not at the moment. He had had enough of explaining sex to deal with the subject of incest right now, though he did make a note to explain it to her before they got back home.
"Kiara..." he started, ready to reject her request, but the look in her eyes stopped him. He hated seeing her look so disappointed... And he knew she really would ask Farlan or Isabel to show her. Cursing again, Levi sighed wearily. All he had to do was make the kiss as innocent as possible.
"Fine, but you can't go doing this again until you're a lot older.. And don't just do it with anyone. Deal?" The smile that lit up her face made this almost worth it.
"Levi... I don't want to do it with anyone else." Kiara smiled brilliantly. "So deal!"
Levi hesitated, looking at the redhead for a moment before leaning closer to her. His hand cupped her cheek lightly. This was Kiara's first kiss. He could at least try to make it seem romantic or something... So he held eye contact with her, his thumb running gently over her cheekbone.
Kiara sat still, watching him with wide eyes. She leaned into his touch and Levi could almost imagine she was in love with him... That this wouldn't be their only kiss.. He cut his thoughts off abruptly and closed the small space separating them.
Their lips brushed once, sending a gentle spark tingling through them. Levi had meant to break the barely there kiss then, but Kiara moved forward as he moved back. Evidently, she was still curious about the kiss.
A warm feeling buzzed through Kiara as their lips made contact firmly this time. It was pleasant and sweet. It only lasted a handful of seconds before Levi pulled away from her again, his hand still resting on the side of her face.
"Are you happy now?" he asked in a tight voice.
"Yeah.. I kind of understand now," Kiara replied thoughtfully. "I didn't understand why that was a thing people do.. I thought it would be gross or unhygienic.. But..."
Levi raised an eyebrow, privately agreeing with her. He had always thought of kissing as unhygienic too... Until now. "But...?" he prompted, now curious himself.
"That felt.." She tilted her head. "It made me feel warm and good."
Levi watched her, carefully masking his face into his usual scowl. There was no way in hell he was going to admit that kissing Kiara had made him feel the same way. Not when she was so young. What was he, a fucking pedophile?
"Time to go home." He stood up and placed Kiara on his hip again. "No more questions."
Kiara let her head rest against his shoulder, smiling broadly. The silence that fell between them was comfortable, despite the horribly embarrassing talk and the strange feeling lingering on both of their lips.
"I'm going to kill both of you," Levi growled at Isabel and Farlan once the twins were asleep.
"Why?" Farlan blinked, looking over at the pissed off man.
"Thanks to your antics earlier, I had to give Kiara the sex talk and I had to deal with her insisting that she wanted to fall in love with me," he snarled.
"Wait.. You couldn't even deal with the menstruation talk and you gave Kiara a lecture on sex?" Farlan visibly had to force himself to not laugh. "I would have paid to see that."
"Shut up," he hissed, "that was the worst thing I've ever had to deal with."
"It can't have been that bad." Isabel stuffed her fist into her mouth to stop giggling.
"It was. Then she all but begged me to kiss her," Levi rapped his knuckles on both of their skulls, "do you know fucking awkward that was?!"
Farlan and Isabel rubbed their heads before looking at each other knowingly. "I don't think you actually minded all that much," Isabel laughed quietly.
"What the hell do you mean?" Levi demanded, glaring at the couple.
"Figure it out," Isabel smirked, "I'm going to bed, big brother."
Isabel kissed Farlan and winked at him before heading off to his room, completely abandoning her boyfriend to Levi's wrath.
"So... Did you do it?" Farlan asked, trying to keep the smile off his lips.
"Do what?" Levi snapped.
"Kiss her."
Levi tensed, glaring again.
"You did," Farlan blinked, his lips parting in surprise, "you really kissed her."
"It only lasted a second. She kept insisting on it." Levi folded his arms and changed the subject. "You're giving Kyori the sex talk. I can't deal with that shit again."
"Funny. You can kill people and steal, but can't talk about sex to a child," Farlan noted dryly, letting the subject of kissing go.
"Killing and stealing is easy," Levi rolled his eyes, "telling a thirteen year old how babies are made is fucking humiliating. Which is why you are explaining that to Kyori tomorrow night."
"I hear Levi gave you an interesting talk last night," Isabel laughed, washing Kiara's hair.
Kiara tilted her head and rested against Isabel. "I guess. He told me about love and stuff."
"Stuff?" Kyori looked at her sister with a raised eyebrow.
"Something called sex," Kiara responded, shrugging her pale shoulders.
"What the fuck is that?"
Isabel burst out laughing as Kiara frowned. "Farlan is planning on telling you later," Isabel laughed again.
Kiara shrugged, rinsing her hair in the cool water. "I'm not too sure myself... Is that why Farlan has been drawing with burnt wood all day?"
"Yep," Isabel giggled, having seen Farlan's terrible drawings herself. He wasn't the most artistic person, but they would at least get the point across.
"Do you know where Levi is then?" Kyori tilted her head, they hadn't seen Levi all day.
"He said he was going out to get food and clothes for us." Isabel shrugged. "You two are growing out of your clothes apparently."
"Usually Farlan gets clothes for us," Kiara said, blinking in surprise.
"Levi is rather pissed at me and Farlan," Isabel scoffed, "So, Levi is making Farlan prepare to give Kyori a certain lecture."
"Am I being punished too?" Kyori frowned slightly.
"Nah, but its a necessary lecture."
"Why is Levi mad at you guys?" Kiara asked, sitting up and washing her body.
"Because I kissed Farlan in front of you and it sparked the whole talk last night." Isabel grinned, completely unrepentant.
"Kissed?" Kiara tilted her head. "Is that what it's called when you touch lips with another person?"
"Yep! From what I hear, Levi kissed you last night," Isabel teased.
Kiara smiled brightly. "Yeah, he did! It felt really nice!"
Isabel hugged Kiara with a loud laugh. "I bet it did. Give me details!"
Kiara blinked, looking confused. "Um.. Well, I had to convince him, but when he finally did.. Kiss.. Me... It felt warm and tingling..." She flushed slightly. "To be honest, I didn't want him to stop. It felt safe and secure... I wasn't expecting it to feel like that at all."
Isabel grinned, glancing over at Kyori who looked slightly stunned.
"How did Levi react?" Isabel asked mischievously.
"Does it really feel that good?" Kyori asked, blinking over at the other two as they finished rinsing soap off their bodies.
"As for it feeling good, yeah... It felt really good... I want to do it again, but Levi made me promise not to until I was older." Kiara sighed. "He didn't seem pleased with it. He didn't look at me much after and his voice was rough."
Isabel raised her eyebrows thoughtfully. "I think he liked it more than he let on. He was probably embarrassed because of your ages. I mean, a nineteen year old man kissing a thirteen year old girl isn't exactly... Good in most cases.."
"What do you mean?" Kiara blinked.
"Well.. Usually in situations where an adult male is kissing a female child, the situation is forced on the child. It usually ends up in rape or something... At least, that's what I've seen on the streets." Isabel glowered darkly.
Kiara tilted her head, swallowing slightly. "But I really liked it with Levi. I definitely wanted it."
"Yeah, I know. I think he just needs time to get used to the idea." Isabel got out of the water and toweled off carelessly. Kiara and Kyori followed her lead, both looking a bit confused.
"Isabel.. What if Levi is my special person?" Kiara asked as she pulled on one of Farlan's old tattered shirts.
Isabel turned to look at her before kissing the side of her head. "Then, everything will fall into place when you're a little older. Don't worry about it." She didn't add that she was certain that Levi was already in love with the kid. Levi needed to grow a pair and tell her himself...which probably wouldn't happen until they were old and gray.
When the three girls left the bathroom freshly washed, they found Levi and Farlan sitting at the table. Farlan was pouring over the last of his drawings.
"What's that?" Kyori asked frowning as Kiara stole an apple from Levi.
"Tonight's story has some pictures," Farlan answered awkwardly.
Levi gave Kiara a look before taking the towel and comb from her porcelain hand.
"Your drawings aren't very good," Isabel noted, taking the stick he was using to draw with. She lit the end on fire and let it burn a little before blowing the flame out and starting to draw on Farlan's work, adding a little detail here and there on the different pages.
Kiara ate the rest of Levi's apple as he dried her hair, humming softly in amusement. When he was finished drying her hair and braiding the long locks, Kiara pressed her lips to his cheek, testing his boundaries.
Levi tensed slightly, his gaze finding Kiara's suspiciously. Kiara grinned at him innocently and he sighed. "You're not going to let it go, are you?" he grumbled, low enough that only Kiara could hear.
"I have no idea what you are talking about. On the cheek isn't an in love thing. Isabel, Farlan, and Kyori kiss my cheeks and forehead all the time." Kiara smiled cheekily. "Besides... I liked kissing you. It makes me feel safe and warm."
Levi narrowed his eyes before giving into her. "No lips," he finally sighed.
"Until I'm older," she reminded him, smirking.
Levi tugged on her braid and picked the small girl up. "There's more clothes in the laundry for the two of you. They should last a while unless you hit another growth spurt."
"Thank you." Kiara grinned. Her pants were showing so much ankle now, she had re-purposed them into shorts last week and her shirts had been showing too much stomach for her liking. "Maybe I'll outgrow you," she teased.
"In your dreams, brat," he muttered, grabbing his tea. He carried Kiara to the couch and sat with her on it, waiting for Isabel and Farlan to finish up.
Kiara curled up on his lap, humming to herself as she waited for Farlan and Isabel to finish whatever they were doing.
"Sing for me?"
Kiara looked up at Levi, considering for a moment. She nuzzled closer to him as she felt his fingers tracing patterns on her shoulder. She smiled slightly and started to sing the lullaby Kyori sang for her when she couldn't sleep. "I'll cradle you in my arms tonight. A sun embraces the moonlight. The clouds will carry us off tonight. Our dreams will run deep like the sea. Our dreams will run deep like the sea... Constant as the stars above. Always know that you are loved and my love shining in you, will help you make your dreams come true... will help your dreams come true.."
Kiara didn't notice how close they were getting, but their faces seemed to be drawing nearer. The sound of Farlan and Isabel standing up and approaching drew Levi's attention and interrupted Kiara's song. She didn't mind, but she was curious what would have happened if they hadn't been interrupted.
"Kyori! Come here," Farlan called, holding the sheets of paper.
Isabel sat down next to Levi and drew Kiara into her lap instead. "Hope you don't mind if I steal your girlfriend, big brother," she smirked, "I want to cuddle my little sister."
Kiara's mouth parted slightly as she blinked, looking over at Levi who was glaring at Isabel. Thankfully, Kyori appeared from the bathroom before Levi could retort. She looked wearily at Farlan.
"Yes...?"
"Its time for the story," Farlan responded, trying to keep the embarrassment off his face.
Kyori frowned, but situated herself on Levi's lap, her arms folding. "Alright..."
Levi's arm wrapped around Kyori automatically. Despite the twins being completely identical outwardly, it felt strange to hold Kyori. He didn't feel the same emotions that holding Kiara gave him. He didn't feel the sense of Kyori belonging in his arms.
Kiara glanced up at Levi with a small smile as she wrapped her arms around Isabel.
Farlan cleared his throat, looking awkward and embarrassed, but one dirty look from Levi was the only prompt he needed to start.
"So, once upon a time, there was a man called Penis," he started awkwardly, sending a glare at Isabel who snorted, "he had a lifetime goal: He wanted to become big and strong."
Farlan held up a picture of a crudely drawn flaccid penis. "This is what Penis looks like. One day, after Penis was an adult, he met a woman named Vagina. Vagina didn't look anything like him," Farlan held up an even cruder drawing of a vagina, "Penis really liked Vagina. He wanted to cuddle her and get close to her."
Isabel burst out laughing so hard tears were streaming from her eyes. Farlan glared at his girlfriend, flushing faintly. Even Levi seemed amused. Kiara tilted her head in confusion. This wasn't how Levi had explained it to her.
Kyori, however, was already starting to look disgusted. She knew full well what a penis was. She had accidentally walked in on Levi changing once and had seen more of him than she had ever wanted to see.
"Ah... Well, after Penis and Vagina got to know each other, they fell in love. They got closer each other and Penis found himself growing stronger and bigger because of how much he loved Vagina." Farlan held up a picture of an erection. "Eventually, Penis and Vagina wanted to be as close as it was possible to be. So.. Penis went inside Vagina... And they... Uh.. Danced."
"This sounds so fucking gross," Kyori grumbled, looking sick.
"Right. It is very gross," Isabel snorted in amusement.
"Anyways... After dancing, Penis felt so good and happy, he started crying inside Vagina. Those tears contained something special called semen. The semen traveled inside Vagina until it reached a special spot inside her. Then, a baby started being made inside Vagina. After nine months, the baby came out of Vagina and she and Penis had a new family. The end."
Farlan set down the pictures he had been using to illustrate his story, his face a brilliant red.
"What the actual fuck was the point of that?" Kyori demanded, glaring darkly. "That was the most disgusting thing I have ever heard."
"Ah.. So, basically that is what happens in real life. A man and a woman will do this.. It's called sex." Farlan rubbed his head.
"I don't want a man anywhere near me like that," Kyori snorted, "I would rather be with another woman."
Levi, Isabel, and Farlan blinked at her several times. "Well, that's completely fine," Farlan said slowly, "there is no problem in preferring women. The sex is a bit different, but you just need figure that out on your own."
Isabel could barely hold back her laughter. "At least, you know what straight sex is though. Gay sex is completely different."
Levi made a noise of agreement as Kyori wrinkled her nose. "Just don't let anyone force you into sex. You always have the right to refuse it no matter the person. If you don't want it, it's rape and that is one of the most despicable crimes." Levi tugged on her hair. "You and Kiara and Isabel will tell us if anyone rapes you. Do I make myself clear?"
Kiara nodded immediately, already knowing to tell Levi and Farlan if something like that happened. Kyori only shrugged.
"I can take care of myself, big brother." Isabel laughed, kissing Kiara on the temple.
"Tell me at the very least. I'm your boyfriend, Isabel," Farlan said sternly.
"Alright, alright," Isabel giggled, blowing him a kiss.
"I'm pretty sure you guys have traumatized me," Kyori announced. "I'm going to bed."
With that, Kyori slipped off Levi's lap and quickly escaped into her room, muttering darkly.
Notes:
Thanks for reading Chapter 2! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I loved writing it. As always, feedback is appreciated!
Also, the song Kiara sings is a lullaby from a Barbie movie my little sister loves.