Petra hit the wall with her forehead and grunted, regretting it immediately. She was in the shower, trying to kill her hangover under the cold water. She cursed Nifa and her fancy wine from the day before. They started with that and spontaneously went out to enjoy the night some more.

She couldn't even feel embarrassed at the fact that it was Levi who rushed her there to clean herself. She was so done with herself. Moving away from the wall, she looked up while lazily reaching for the soap.


Levi looked up at the blue sky. A small cloud of smoke he just let out of his lungs was spoiling the view. Not that it really mattered since his mind was somewhere else, actually not so far away, but in the bathroom of Petra's flat. He squinted his eyes when the sunlight hit his face. It didn't stop him from imagining how the water would flow down over her naked body.

He remained calm when she joined him on the balcony.

"Here you are! I thought you left because of my...state." She said half jokingly coming closer to the man sitting at the bottom of the wall under the windowsill. There were some pillows there, and it was the only place to sit on this empty balcony.

Levi looked up at her, furrowing his brows. The sight of her damp hair sticking to her face and neck made him let out a shallow breath. The fresh smell of her shower gel reached him when she sat at his side. She was dressed in an oversized t-shirt and shorts.

"You're asking to get sick, huh."

She smiled and shoved his arm lightly.

"You're worrying about me again. That's cute." she said and met his warning glare.

"Do you feel any better?"

"Yeah, a…" she paused when he lifted her shirt to take a look at her unfinished tattoo. Now she was sure he was aware that she didn't have a bra on. "A bit better than before."

"Now we will have to fix it." he said, not taking his eyes off her skin. When he finally looked up at her red face he delicately pinched her cheek with his two fingers. "Why did you drink? What are you, a beginner? Was it your first tattoo, huh?" he mocked her.

Petra smiled awkwardly lost in his icy blue eyes. He was talking in his querulous tone, yet it was making her happy.

"Sorry… I was… distressed, and I really didn't think about that."

"Huh? With what?"

Petra fixed her shirt turning her head away from him.

"I don't really want to talk about it now." she said, pulling her legs closer to her torso.

She closed her eyes when she felt his hand on her own and tilted her head backwards to rest it against the wall. There was a calm smile on her face, but he didn't see that as he was also looking away. Her hand was small in his, and incredibly soft. He lowered his eyelids when he felt her thumb caressing his fingers.

"Can I say something silly?" Petra asked, opening her eyes.

"Hm?"

"I… I don't think I've ever told you why I am such a big fan of your art."

"I don't think you did." he agreed calmly.

There was a long pause before she started to speak again. He didn't rush her.

"There was a time I was in a dark place. I was… lost and didn't really know how to deal with myself. It was a miss click, really, as I stumbled upon your page. There weren't many tattoos on it back then, mostly projects, so I followed you curious to see how they will look on someone's body. It was crazy to see you progressing so fast. I thought back then - some people are just made for success - and I got so jealous I unfollowed you. But, for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking of your drawings. I felt like...you understood me, somehow. That's idiotic, I know."

He didn't say anything but the light squeeze she felt on her hand made her want to share more.

"Anyway...silly me thought that I might show you, or rather the imaginary you in my head, that I can do that too. Reality was harsh to smack me in the face when it turned out my drawing skills sucked. " She laughed a little. "I've made my first tattoo and followed you again. I was petty, but you inspired me. Years went by and eventually, I fell in love with your artworks. Especially those on your body. I mean, no...not because the photos showed your body, but because there was something more deep about them. I could see that they were not just random, you put a lot of thought into them."

"That's fucking poetic." he commented, and she bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

"Shut up, it's not." she said softly and squeezed his hand too.

"How did you imagine me?"

She restrained a smile and slowly moved her gaze in his direction. Just as she expected, he was staring at her.

"Go on. I know what you will fucking say." he said frowning.

"Ok, so I will skip that. I also thought that you were mysterious, and that was somewhat right. I didn't expect you to be so rude, though."

"I'm not that rude."

"Maybe. Sometimes you are." she said. " But never to me." she added in a softer voice. She heard him huff.

"I cannot. But I can reprimand you when you are stupid, like yesterday."

"I guess. I can take that." she said moving closer and rested her head on his arm. A chill went through his body because of the damp hair he felt on his neck.

"You're making me wet." he stated.

Petra raised her head fast, bursting in laughter. She covered her mouth as he watched her, confused.


"I wish you could stay longer."

"Yeah. That wouldn't be so bad."

They were standing at the entrance door to her flat. He was already outside it, but they just stood there. She, not closing the door, and he, not going away.

"See you at the parlor then?" she asked playing with her, now dry, hair.

"Yeah." he said, still not moving an inch. He took a breath, finally, like he was tired of it, and moved closer to her. She was expecting a kiss, but he took her lower lip in his teeth and pulled on it instead. Only then he kissed her. Levi straightened up and pinched her pink cheek affectionately. "See you."

She watched his back as he left and only closed the door when he disappeared from her view.

Falling on her bed, she held her breath from all the unresolved tension he was putting her in. She signed, closed her eyes, and let her hand slip under the hem of her shorts.


"It's official, my dress will be red." She said coming into Levi's office.

He was cleaning his desk and turned his head to look at her.

"Ok. And?" he asked, confused.

"That means that you should wear a tie of the same color." She responded, raising her eyebrows. "Or at least some red accent. If you want, of course, I think it would look good-"

"I get it. Just buy it for me, so it would match. I'll send you the money later."

Petra beamed happily and hit her heart lightly with her right fist.

"Thank you, captain!"

Levi froze and looked at her. From the look on his face, she momentarily felt like she did something wrong and lowered her hand.

"What did you say?"

"Ah, I mean, I heard the others call you that." She said fixing her bangs nervously. "I'm sorry."

He approached her investigating the look on her face. She was avoiding his eyes.

"Are you scared of me?" He asked, feeling uneasy at the sole idea of that.

"I don't want you to be angry at me. I'm sorry."

"I'm not angry." He said and took off one of the rubber gloves he was wearing.

"I'm sorry." She said quietly and then felt his fingers moving her chin up.

"Don't be. You didn't do anything."

They were looking at each other for a long silent moment, and he couldn't stop himself from thinking of what the fuck happened in her past for her to now react this way.

The doors of the office opened.

"Yo! Do we have…"

They both turned their heads in Gunther's direction. Levi put his hand down.

"Eh...do you have some spare gloves in here?" He asked with a meaningful smile now on his face. Petra turned her head back embarrassed.

"They are in the backroom. Get out of here, Uber."

The other man left them, but they could still hear his laugh from the other side of the studio.

Petra looked back at Levi and took a deep breath. "Okay. Anyway, I'll look for the tie after work."

"Good."

She nodded her head and was about to get out but stopped with her hand already on the handle to look back at him once more.

"I can't wait for the wedding."

"You better bring this damn smile of yours there too."

She covered her mouth with her hand. This could probably be the most romantic thing she heard from him.


Farlan was waiting for him at the empty parking lot in the city outskirts. Levi parked his car and approached him already knowing that some shit went down from the expression of his friend.

"What is it?" he asked going straight to the point.

The blonde man looked up at the stars sighing, then lowered his head to meet his intense gaze. He smiled apologetically.

"I will need your help."

Levi cursed looking away, already knowing what that meant.

"Seriously? I'm done with it."

"They are after Isabel. I guess it's time to tell you that we didn't really end with the shady business after you left. Now it bites us in the ass. Yeah."

"Jesus...you fucks." he commented and kick the tire of his car. Farlan was glad he chose the tire and not his ass.

"If we get rid of them, that will be it. No more troubles. I swear. It's just like...three guys."

Levi stepped closer and grabbed his shirt to pull him at his eye level.

"Do you know how hard it was to make you two safe backs then? How many people wanted to get your ass?"

"It was on you back then." Farlan responded without a second of hesitation. Levi's expression didn't change, but he knew he was right. He let go of his shirt and took a step back.

"Let's get it over with."

Farlan straightened himself and smiled.

"Knew we can count on you." he said and passed him to get on the passenger seat.


Petra was chatting with Nifa on her laptop when her phone rang. Given the time, she was sure who that was before even reaching out for it.

"Hi, it's the Insomnia Emergency Center."

"Can I see you?"

She was surprised by his tone. He wasn't the most expressive one usually, but there was something worrying about it now.

"Everything's okay?" she asked alarmed but didn't let herself panic. Not yet.

"It's fine." He said calmly. "I'm fine."

"It's midnight, do you want to video chat?"

"No."

"Do you...want to come see me then?" she asked testing the waters.

"I'd like that."

"Okay. I'll wait." she responded softly.


All her excitement faded the moment she saw him at her front door. He looked a shadow of his every-day self. Something that she didn't think was possible. She was sure right and then that he was not - in fact - fine.

Without saying a word he got closer and embraced her, burying his face in her neck. She hugged him instinctively before slowly leading him inside. He didn't let go of her.

They were standing in each other arms in the darkness of the hall.

"I'm so done with all this shit." he finally broke the silence.

"What shit?" she asked calmly, stroking his back, which he barely felt through the leather jacket.

"I can't tell you. I can't let you get involved in any of that."

The way he stated it made her give up on trying to convince him otherwise.

"Let's make you some tea." she said quietly and moved her head back to kiss the side of his head.