And It Was Bliss
Ophelia sat on her bed attempting to read Little Women by Louisa M Alcott. One of her favorites. But she couldn't seem to absorb the story like she usually did. It was the morning of the gala. The one she hadn't decided on going to yet. After another few frustrating minutes of trying and failing at enjoying the novel Ophelia huffed and pushed the book to the other side of her bed. She looked over to the chair sitting by her desk and sighed. Laying neatly over it was the dress she so adored at Unique Vintage. The perfect find for the forties theme of the Rogers' Foundation Gala. She wanted to go. She always had. But the fear of having to face the Avenger who left for her death lingered in her mind.
A knock came to her door and Ophelia stood from her bed reluctantly. Just in one of her baggy night shirts she padded over to the door. She peered through the peep hole. Levi. Ophelia turned around and pressed her back against the door. She hadn't spoken to him since their time at the Avengers compound. She needed some space. But apparently Levi had had enough space.
"I know your home." Levi's signature tone rang through the door. Ophelia closed her eyes tight and took a deep breath in. She had to face him. Had to get answers. The fact that he was keeping secrets from her made her uneasy. And nothing would settle her unease other than speaking with the source of that distress. "Please let me in. We need to talk." Levi said pressing his forehead against the other side of the door and closing his eyes in frustration.
Reluctantly Ophelia turned around and twisted the knob to her front door. Ophelia opened the door just wide enough for Levi to slip through and she walked across her apartment to her kitchen. Levi closed the door then put his hands in his pockets. Something he often did when he felt uncomfortable in a situation. He followed Ophelia over to the kitchen and watched her silently as she made herself a cup of tea. Just as she finished placing the tea bag in the cup of hot water she looked to Levi and pointed to the tea. He nodded with a small smile and Ophelia obliged by making him a cup as well.
After the tea was ready Ophelia carried both cups to her couch and set them on the small coffee table before it. She sat down and made room for Levi to join her. As he sat she tensed. The tension in the room would break a knife if you tired to cut it. After multiple sips of tea and awkward small talk Ophelia finally asked the question she needed an answer too.
"What is going on with you?" Ophelia asked. Levi turned his eyes to hers and a feeling of comfort washed over her. Because even when Levi wasn't at his best, she still felt at home with him.
"I know you are upset with me. But you need to understand that I only lied because I felt as if I had too. I have too." Levi said without removing his gaze from hers.
"You don't have to lie to me. Ever." Ophelia replied.
"It's better this way." Levi replied. Ophelia tilted her head in confusion.
"How? How is lying ever the answer? This isn't life or death Levi. This is a friendship. And we can't go on like this. You need to be honest with me. Completely. Just how I have been completely honest with you." Ophelia replied. She placed her cup down on the table before her and then took Levi's cup from his hand and did the same. She then reached over and placed one of his hands in both of hers. She looked back up into his bright green eyes and begged him with hers to tell her the truth. She trusted him with her entire being. And for the first time since first meeting Levi, Ophelia felt as though maybe he didn't have the same trust in her.
"I don't WANT to lie to you." Levi whispered removing his eyes from hers and looking down at their hands. He placed his other hand gently on top of hers and rubbed his finger over her hand.
"Then don't." Ophelia whispered back. Levi pressed his lips together as his thoughts coursed through his veins. Ophelia was fighting the urge peer into his mind as he thought. Her powers itching to come to the surface as their hands touched. It had always been difficult for Ophelia to get a glimpse into Levi's mind. And each time she had been able to gain a look into his thoughts it had always been because he allowed her too. And it was always very limited. Visions of his favorite places he's been in the world and memories of his children that were always very blurry and distorted. Levi's capacity to alter his mind to only allow Ophelia to see small parts of himself fascinated her. But she never pried. She loved Levi. And she trusted Levi. And if he wasn't ready to share those parts of himself with her yet. Then so be it.
"I promise. I'll explain everything. Just... not today. Alright?" Levi finally said after a bout of silence. Ophelia needed answers now. But she accepted this as a step in the right direction.
"Okay. I trust you." She replied. Levi let out a breath he seemed to have been holding. He let go of her hands and leaned against the back of her couch. He rubbed his eyes with both his hands and chuckled to himself. "What's so funny?" Ophelia asked leaning closer to him. Levi looked over to her and laughed again. "What is it?" Ophelia asked, this time with a little laugh of her own.
"You just... you just really know how to get to me." Levi said with a small smile placing his hands behind his head and looking up at the ceiling. And without even thinking Ophelia looked into Levi's mind. But instead of visions of his thoughts she just felt one feeling wash over her entire body.
Love.
Ophelia stood from her sitting position and stood in front of Levi. His eyes wide with surprise at her sudden intrusion into his mind but his body stilled completely. And without the answers she so desperately yearned for, nor the words she secretly wished to hear leave his lips; Ophelia bent down and kissed him.
And it was slow, and it was soft, and it was bliss.