#squirrel scribbles words

The afternoon had been a time full of plans and activities and busy people. Evening, however, was calm as Anthony pulled off his shirt in search of a new one, home once again after wrestling practice. Cool autumn air puffed from the window cracked open to alleviate the tiredness that had been building since practice started. Tony doubted he’d be completely alone this evening. Azzy was probably still at the archery range, Vivian with her own friends and unbothered about her brother, but Levi…

Ever the king of comedic timing, one green-haired boy burst through the door, speaking as if Tony had been in this conversation from the beginning, “Oh my god Tony, someone needs to die or else I kill them myself.”

“Do you mind!?” Tony rushed to cover at least his bare chest with the almost-discarded shirt. Levi didn’t seem to “mind!?” as he did a little hop into jumping face first onto Tony’s bed, not even batting an eye at the half undressed Tony. “I’m- wait who are we killing?”

“Lillianne Smith,” He groaned, voice muffled by the blankets beneath him. Rolling over, he turned to look at Tony, “If I have to interact with this girl one more time I may just quit theater.”

Tony found the replacement shirt he had been looking for, soft and large and clean, “You? Quitting theater?” Once Tony had pulled the shirt fully on, he found space to fix Levi with a disbelieving stare. Red roots were poking through Levi’s artificial green again, Tony resisting the urge to ruffle his hand through it. His gaze landed next to Levi instead, at the pillow Levi had somehow avoided steamrolling over in all his chaos, “Impossible.”

“She keeps dancing in front of me, Tony,” Levi gave a faux sniffle, practically clawing himself up to an upright sitting position, “We’re supposed to be on diagonals, Tony. Diagonals.”

“And the…”

Levi’s voice grew a bit louder, losing the teary-eyed tone, “Oh, I thought the seven bullying reports went without saying. It's-”

As Levi ranted, Tony joined him on the bed. He watched his friend(?) gesture more and more animatedly, energy going from his eyes through his hands and into the space filled only by his voice. Levi only got into three side tangents this time! A record. Tony grinned. He knew minutes were passing, but as far as he understood, it was this moment forever. He leaned forward, but-

“So obviously I'm not even that worked up about- oh.” Levi turned to face him, and suddenly Tony was made aware of the closeness of their two bodies. “Hi.”

A breath passed between the two, a moment of perfect silence in that strange peace. Nothing stirred, not the folds in the blankets or the air out the window. Until Levi broke it with a sound and a look, “Uh, you planning on doing something here, or…?”

And Tony did.

As simple as leaning forward, he did something. It didn't last long, it might not have happened at all, but it had to have, because Levi was genuinely speechless, lifting a hand to his lips, face as red as Tony's felt. Tony inhaled all at once, taking in just what he had done. He had kissed Levi. He had kissed Levi, and he hadn't asked and he didn't know if Levi was okay with it or not and.

“Sorry, I just- sorry.” He managed, still waiting to see Levi's reaction. Well, reaction other than shock. “I… you didn't-” Tony cut himself off, pushing a puff of air out through his lungs.

Finally, a hand lowered. And Levi Telianth spoke. “Hooooooly shiiit.” Green hair fell to that untouched pillow as Levi crashed backwards into it, staring up at the ceiling. His lips, though, were tilted in an unmistakably giddy little grin.

Oh? “Pfff, really? That's all you have to say?” Tony leaned over, stifling a laugh at the first words out of Levi's mouth after a thing like a kiss. “Was it really that bad?”

“Hey, I wasn't ready! Don't look at me like that!” That hand went up, pressing into Tony's face and pushing it to the side. Tony couldn't stop himself from laughing in response. “Fuck! Shut up!”

“Well you're ready now, aren't you?” Levi blinked at him, slowly sitting up, face somehow getting even redder. God, sometimes he needed to just stop saying things.

But Levi nodded, and Tony took a breath, and his hands went up to Levi's impossibly warm face. And. A kiss. One that actually happened. One that ran Tony's hands through Levi's red roots and smiled Levi's lips into Tony's. Nothing intense, but enough. A kiss. Tony leaned back, pulling his hands from Levi's hair. They were both giddy, giggling and nudging each other, even if no substantial words could be formed just yet. It wasn't silent anymore, of course, but it had returned to peaceful.

Until- a knock sounded from the door. Tony heard a squeak from Levi as the two boys attempted to fix… something, as if they were about to be caught doing something truly awful. Levi crabwalked a few lengths from Tony, only stopped by the wall at the head of the bed, while Tony stood and tried to look busy at the closet.

It was staring. A kid, a new kid, wandering down a path next to Qiu's house, and pausing at a crossroads. Ohh, this kid was cute. Like really cute. They seemed kind of… stressed out? Maybe they just needed to be cheered up!

“Heyy!” Levi put her hands next to her face in that shout. It was supposed to do something, she didn't know what. “Hey, who're you?”

The new kid looked surprised at Levi coming out of the bushes of the crossroad, and… scared. They took off down one of the paths, leaving Levi staring after. “Wha- wait! I'm sorry!”

But the kid didn't turn back, and Levi had to go home. There was school to prepare for.

~ ~ ~

School was so boring. No interesting people, her teacher wasn't even cool, and Cassandra had been assigned to a different class! Lumi was older, so Levi hadn't been surprised when they had to go with Mama to a different school, but no Cassandra? That was just unfair! And no cute mystery kid, either.

But the afternoon was fun, and Cassandra “told” Levi about her teacher, the one with the red hair and silly attendance phrase, and two new girls who sat in the back of the classroom, and one of them was really pretty. Levi got interested at that, but it wasn't the mystery kid.

And in the evening, the Telianth family went to “The Diner Table” for dinner. A silly name, a good place, and Mr. Yusuf was one of the super cool people Levi had met over the summer. A table was not a fun place to sit at, but Mama didn't agree when Levi asked for a booth. So, a circle table, and root beer for drinks, and the bell rang, announcing another table—or booth—of guests.

First, Levi saw Qiu, and waved. Then there were two strangers, one short, and one very tall. Lastly, there was a kid with a bear-eared headband and orange in their bangs. Them. The kid!

“Leviossa, stop your fidgeting.”

“Sorry! But-” Levi watched the hostess lady lead the group over to a table, but then after conversation, move to a booth. Levi cast a glance over to Mama, but she wasn't watching. Levi watched until Mr. Yusuf had gone to get whatever drinks the group had ordered, then slipped out of her chair and bounded over to the booth.

“It's you!” Levi didn't shout, that had scared the kid before, and they were inside now. But she did point.

Qiu responded first. “Levi! Hi! You've met Azzy?”

Levi paused. “Um. Which one is Azzy…?”

“That's Azzy! I'm Tamarack!” The other stranger, the kid, sparkly hair bouncing as she moved, did a series of pointing at the kid—Azzy—and then herself.

“Oh! Then, yeah, I saw Azzy in the woods yesterda-”

“Leviossa! Why are you all the way over there? The food is here.” That was Papa this time.

“Okay! I'm coming!” Levi turned then waved at the booth as she stepped back to leave.

But an arm shot out, and grabbed at Levi's waving hand. Azzy placed a bracelet in her hand. “L T” it said. Levi grinned, and bounced back to the table.