#happy reader

"Levi?" He stiffened, surprised at your knock on his door. "Can I come in? I brought some tea." Levi shook his head but stopped when he realized you couldn't see him. He couldn't let you see him, not like this, with his heart vulnerable and so, so fragile. He couldn't make the same mistake twice. Not when he was aching for the friends he'd lost years ago on this very day. The ones he used to call Isabel and Farlan. The ones he considered family.

"No." his voice was hoarse and crackly, foreign to his own ears. Nevertheless, you persisted, knocking once again, "Please? Just take the tea at least." Levi was ready to shove you off his doorstep and was about to do so as he yanked the door open, startling you. But when he saw that look in your eyes, all his harsh words died on his lips. Your eyes were so... understanding and so, so, warm. They weren't filled with pity or cold, cold, judgment. No, they were tender and sweet and kind, and he could go on and on about what he saw, but Levi would never forget those eyes. How could he, when they would be the same eyes that he was going to marry someday?

When the creature in the box finally began to stir, Levi was done tidying up. He knew this critter would bring many more stressful nights and untidy rooms, but Levi told himself that it would be worth it just to see that look in your eyes again. When he was sure that no more chewable items lay strewn across the floor, Levi carefully lifted the small animal from its makeshift cage. After cradling it in his arms for a few minutes, he placed it on the floor. At first, the animal was confused. The strong smell of disinfectant hit it first, tickling and teasing its nose. But after a while, it sidled up to Levi, rubbing its fur against his shoe. Deciding he should spoil the animal a little, Levi brought out a small ball, roughly the size of an orange. "Here," he thrust the ball out, hesitantly petting the animal's soft fur. When it spotted the ball, the animal charged, grabbing the ball in its jaws. Levi muttered to himself as he lost his balance, the ball gone from his grip. "I should not have gotten a dog, dammnit." He watched intently as the small puppy swung his ball back and forth, pouncing on it every time it moved. Levi felt a foreign feeling bloom in his chest. It was nice to see someone, or something, act so carefree and happy. He almost envied the damn thing. When had he ever gotten to be so playful and lighthearted? His life simply hadn't allowed it. The dog must have seen the awed expression on Levi's face because she crawled into his lap, paws climbing over his legs. Levi never was one for cats. Yes, they were like him in every way, quiet, calm, and bitchy at times, but Levi wanted a pet that would greet him with excited barks and wagging tails instead of uninterested purrs. He wanted to see that there still existed innocent happiness in an animal who didn't know the horrors his world brought. It was as if, for a fleeting moment, Levi could be lost in a separate world with his companion. A world where nothing existed but lavish fields of grass and sunshine.

Shaking these thoughts away, Levi stood. The puppy trotted around him, giving him playful barks and wagging her tail. Before Levi could recoil in disgust, the dog licked Levi's hand and then jumped on him, begging to be picked up. Levi would have almost, almost, smiled at the oblivious dog in front of him if his hand wasn't covered in drool. He looked at it with mild contempt before he walked to the kitchen. He was preparing to wash his hands off when he heard the lock in the front door click open. Before he had time to react, you burst in the door, focused intently on your phone. "Levi! Levi look!" You shoved the phone in his face. "There's a small dog up for adoption! Isn't he the cutest?" Levi had to stop himself from smiling as he scrutinized the blurry image on your phone. "Can we get him? Please, please, please?" Your begging had been going on for weeks, and Levi had finally relented. "No. We can't." You showed Levi your best pout, "Why? Please?" Levi rolled his eyes at your antics, "Because we already have one."

It took a while for your brain to comprehend what he just said. "What?"

Levi sighed and flicked your forehead, "There." You followed his finger to find a small puppy happily prancing around in your living room. You squealed in sheer joy and ran over, hugging the alarmed dog. "Oh Levi," you gasped, "It's wonderful." You gave him one of your blinding smiles and Levi was glad to see that happiness in your eyes again. "What do you wanna name her?" Levi asked, genuinely curious. You mulled over the question for a few seconds before answering.

"Let's name her Isabel."