[h3][color=c2b280]Levi Orienko[/color][/h3][hr][justify][indent][indent][indent]
The sunlight was already sharp enough to sting. Dust lifted from the road each time a truck passed, hanging over the air like pale smoke. Levi let it drift over him in silence, content to listen to the rhythm of the street, the idle chatter of soldiers, the clatter of spent cartridges swept into piles, the smell of oil and mango leaves.

Bahram’s voice broke through it all, bright and careless as ever.

[quote]"Some of us have been tasked with giving humanitarian aid; food, water, medicine, blankets, and for the kids who had to endure war, toys and candy - I have a sample, if you want!"[/quote]

The man reached into a blue plastic bag stamped with the UN logo and drew out a packet of Hershey’s. The color alone brought something old and unwanted to the surface. Chocolate.

He remembered the first one he’d ever eaten, stolen from a shelf in some nameless train station after his escape. His hands had been shaking, his stomach empty enough to ache. He’d devoured it whole and spent the next hours hunched and retching behind a wall, his body rejecting sweetness as if it were poison. He hadn’t touched chocolate since.

[quote]“It’s not poisoned, I promise!”[/quote]

Levi’s lips twitched, a flicker of something that might have been humor.

[color=c2b280]“I believe you,”[/color] he said quietly, a slight chuckle escaping his lips. [color=c2b280]“But I will pass.”[/color] He paused. [color=c2b280]“I er… had my fill of it once.”[/color] He didn’t explain any further. 

The street buzzed with heat again, and Levi’s gaze swept across it, calm, methodical. His eyes caught on a familiar figure at the far end of the road: black leather jacket, worn jeans, steady stride. The one he had seen through the paper bird’s eyes minutes ago. 

When his concentration was broken, he nearly missed that Bahram had invited him to celebrate. He spoke a little too quickly, almost abruptly. [color=c2b280]“I have not celebrated New Year in a long time. I would like that.”[/color]

When the man approached and greeted them, with an easy tone and practiced friendliness, Levi was already still. Not tense, nor surprised, just… ready. The stranger’s eyes flicked between them, lingering long enough to study, not long enough to challenge. Levi met his gaze briefly, a simple acknowledgment, before replying.

[quote]"You look kinda young to be standing around here for. I'm guessing you got some masterly arms about you?"[/quote]

The strangers opening about their Arms took Levi back a bit. It’s not like Noble Arms were so uncommon that people couldn’t make assumptions about who might have them, and true, Bahram and Levi being stood here, outside the town hall brought a level of attention that would give the man more information than he’d even need to assume they’d have them but it was an odd opening statement. At least, it was to Levi.

[color=c2b280]“Something like that.”[/color] Levi replied after a moment’s silence. He let the emptiness fill his words more than he said. And the answer worked for most situations.

Bahram had turned to a paper, voice lifting as he read headlines about rebellion and war, the kind of noise that never really stopped, no matter which flag you stood under, not that Levi had paid much attention to the state of the world or its events. He’d only been free for a short time and still didn’t understand, nor try to understand, world affairs. He simply smiled gently at Bahram and spoke gentler, his voice tinged with accent. [color=c2b280]“I did not, no. Is good news?”[/color] 
[/indent][/indent][/indent][/justify][right][@Letter Bee][@LladyLloki][/right]