The hiding spot was different this time, larger, with reinforced walls and three separate exits like Levi had planned. But it still meant spending another night pressed into the earth while monsters hunted above
The lantern cast weak shadows across the dirt walls. Miguel and Elena had settled against one side, close together the way couples do after years of shared struggles. Ariana sat next to Levi on the opposite wall, close enough that their shoulders touched but with a careful space between them that felt awkward now that they were married.
Even if it was only by words and promises.
SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The first screech made Ariana flinch. Without thinking, Levi's arm went around her shoulders, pulling her closer. She melted into his side immediately, her head finding his shoulder like it belonged there.
"Okay?" he whispered.
"Better now," she whispered back.
Across from them, Miguel's eyes were closed, his breathing even. Elena's head rested on his shoulder in the mirror of their daughter. Whether they were actually asleep or just giving the newlyweds privacy, Levi wasn't sure.
Time stretched. The screeches continued above, punctuated by the sound of footsteps, of things being moved, of the nightly hunt. But down here, in this small pocket of earth, Ariana's warmth against his side made it almost bearable.
He felt her shift slightly, her head moving just a fraction. Then, soft, tentative, her lips pressed against his neck.
Levi's entire body went rigid. Every nerve ending suddenly screaming awake.
She did it again. A kiss, butterfly-soft, just below his ear. Then another, lower. Each one sending electricity racing down his spine.
"Ariana," he breathed, barely audible.
"Shh." Another kiss, this one on his jaw. "They're sleeping."
Were they? Levi glanced across the space. Miguel and Elena hadn't moved, their breathing still steady. But there was something about the way Miguel's jaw was set that suggested he was very much awake and very deliberately not looking.
Ariana's lips found his cheek. Then the corner of his mouth. Then-
He turned his head, caught her lips with his, and suddenly they were kissing for real. Not the tentative, gentle thing from earlier. This was need and want, and two weeks of tension finally finding release.
Her hand slid into his hair. His tightened on her waist. She shifted closer, then-, somehow, she was climbing into his lap, straddling him, chest to chest in the narrow space.
"Ariana," he managed between kisses. "We can't-" She cut his cuts with a kiss, "your parents-"
"Don't care," she breathed against his mouth. "Need you closer."
Her teeth caught his bottom lip, tugging gently. A sound escaped him- embarrassing, desperate. His hands found her hips, gripping maybe too tightly, but she just made a soft noise of approval and kissed him harder.
They were both breathing hard now, the space between them nonexistent. Levi's head was spinning. This was too much and not enough and-...
Ahem.
They froze.
Miguel's eyes were open now, fixed on them with an expression that was equal parts amused and stern.
"Sorry," Levi blurted immediately, his face burning hot enough to light the bunker. "We weren't… I didn't… sorry."
Miguel just hummed, a sound that could mean anything from I'm disappointed to I was young once, too. Then he deliberately closed his eyes again.
Ariana buried her face in Levi's neck, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter. She whispered. "I can never look at him again."
"That's fair," Levi whispered back. "I'm going to dig a hole and live in it."
"You already live in holes."
"A deeper one."
She lifted her head, her eyes bright with mischief despite the embarrassment. "We should probably-"
"Yeah."
But neither of them moved. Not yet.
Finally, Ariana shifted, turning so her back was to his chest, settling between his legs. More appropriate. Less scandalous. His arms came around her waist automatically, and she laced her fingers with his.
Better.
Except now his face was right by her neck, and the temptation to press his lips there was almost overwhelming.
So he did it. Just once. Soft. Teasing.
She shivered. "Levi."
"Hmm?" Another kiss, just below her ear.
"You're going to get us in trouble."
"I'm really trying not to."
She tilted her head slightly, giving him better access without actually saying yes. He took the invitation, trailing soft kisses down the side of her neck while his hands stayed carefully, chastely on her waist.
"We should stop," she whispered, even as she pressed back against him.
"Probably."
"My dad is going to kill you."
"Yeah… He will."
She laughed softly, the sound doing dangerous things to his self-control. She turned her head, catching his mouth in a kiss that was softer than before but no less intense.
When they finally broke apart, both breathless, she whispered: "I've never done this before."
"The kissing?"
"Any of it." She was quiet for a moment. "I spent so much time studying, getting good grades, degrees… I never had time for dating or relationships or... this."
Levi's arms tightened around her. "Me neither."
"Really?"
"Yeah." He pressed his forehead against her shoulder. "Turns out most women don't want to date someone they have to bend down to kiss. Who knew?"
"Their loss," she said fiercely. "You're perfect."
"I'm really not."
"You are to me."
She turned in his arms, carefully, quietly, until she was facing him again. "Can I kiss you again?"
"Please."
This time was different. Slower. Deeper. Her lips parted against his, and suddenly her tongue was touching his and oh… oh- that was new. That was-
He made a little sound he'd definitely be embarrassed about later, his hands sliding into her hair. She pressed closer, her fingers gripping his shirt, and the kiss turned desperate again. Hungry.
Her hips shifted against his lap, and Levi gasped into her mouth. She did it again, deliberately this time, and he had to break the kiss to press his forehead against hers, breathing hard.
"We have to stop," he managed a whisper.
"I know."
"Your parents are right there."
"I know."
"And I'm…" He couldn't finish the sentence, too embarrassed.
But she knew. She could feel it, pressed against her backside. She shifted once more, just once, a slow grind that made him see stars, then settled back into his arms like nothing had happened.
"It's okay," she whispered. "I understand."
Because she did. Because she was feeling it too, the heat, the need, the frustration of wanting something they couldn't have right now.
So they just held each other. Kissed softly when the temptation got too strong. Whispered things that didn't need to be said but felt important anyway.
And eventually, finally, they both drifted into an exhausted sleep, still wrapped around each other. Both of them missed her parents completely awake, glancing at each other and then them, wondering if they should separate the young couple.
Morning came too bright and too knowing.
They emerged from the hiding spot to find Miguel already awake, his expression carefully neutral as he helped Elena out. But there was something in his eyes, amusement, understanding, maybe a hint of welcome to marriage, that made both Levi and Ariana avoid looking at him.
Breakfast was awkward in the best way.
They sat at the small table in the house, passing food in silence that was loaded with things unsaid. Elena kept glancing at her daughter with a small smile. Miguel's lips twitched every time Levi reached for something and accidentally brushed Ariana's hand.
Finally, unable to take the tension, Levi cleared his throat. "So. I was thinking. Maybe you could teach me some Spanish?"
Miguel's eyebrows rose. "Spanish?"
"Yeah. Simple stuff. Phrases. Words." He glanced at Ariana, then back. "If I'm part of the family now, I should probably speak the language."
Elena's face lit up. "Oh! Yes! We'd love to teach you."
And just like that, the awkwardness broke. For the next hour, they taught him basic phrases. Buenos días. Por favor. Gracias. He butchered most of them with an accent, but they were patient, correcting his pronunciation with gentle laughter.
When Ariana taught him te amo, her cheeks flushed pink. When he repeated it back, still accented wrong, but sincere, Ariana had to look away, her eyes suspiciously bright.
After breakfast, Elena stood, stretching. "Miguel, we should check on the animals. Make sure they settled okay overnight."
"The animals are fine," Miguel said automatically.
Elena gave him a look. "We should check on them. Now."
Understanding dawned on Miguel's face. "Oh. Yes. Right. The animals."
They gathered their things with obvious deliberateness, not quite meeting the young couple's eyes.
"We'll be back in a few hours," Elena said, already heading for the door. "You two just... relax. Rest. You've been working so hard."
Then they were gone, leaving Levi and Ariana alone in the sudden quiet.
For a moment, neither moved. Then Ariana started laughing.
"Oh dear," she managed between giggles. "They're not even subtle."
"Not even a little," Levi agreed, but he was smiling too.
The laughter faded, leaving something softer, warmer. Ariana stood, held out her hand. "Come here."
He took it, let her pull him up. She led him to the couch, sat down, and pulled him down beside her. Close. Closer than they'd been allowed to be with her parents watching.
"Hi," she said softly, awkwardly.
"Hi."
"We're alone."
"We are."
"For possibly hours."
"Possibly."
Her hand found his face, thumb tracing his cheekbone. "I want to kiss you again. Without worrying about… you know…."
"I know…"
So she did. Soft at first, tentative, like they were discovering each other all over again in the daylight. But it didn't stay soft. It couldn't.
His hands found her waist. Hers slid into his hair. She shifted closer, then, somehow, she was in his lap again, straddling him properly this time with no one to interrupt.
"Is this okay?" she breathed against his mouth.
"Very okay."
They kissed until breathing became optional, until the world narrowed to just her weight on him, her hands in his hair, her mouth on his. When she pulled back, both of them flushed and breathing hard, her smile was radiant.
"I love you," she said simply. "I know it's fast and crazy and we barely know each other, but I do. I love you."
"te amo dos"
Ariana blinked.
A beat of silence, just long enough for the word to register.
Then she burst into laughter, sudden and bright, head tipping back as the sound spilled out of her in delighted waves. She grabbed his sleeve to steady herself, trying to breathe through the fit.
Levi covered his face, forehead on her chest, a low groan escaping him. "Yeah… I know."
She pulled in a soft breath, calming, the leftover smile still glowing in her eyes. Her hand rose to cup his cheek, steady and warm, their foreheads together.
She kissed him, slow, sure, sealing the moment with something deeper than humor.
"Levi," she said gently, "the phrase is te amo también."
Levi hesitated. "Can I still say 'dos'?"
Ariana snorted so loudly she slapped a hand over her mouth.
Then she dragged him down into another kiss, still laughing against his lips, "Yeah. You can, but only to me."
"Deal."
Her hands slid down his arms, finding his fingers, threading them together. "Can we… stay like this? Just for a little?"
"Yeah." He kissed her temple. "As long as you want."
She relaxed against him, settling into his chest, her heartbeat slowly syncing with his.
The world narrowed down to warmth, breath, shared space, and shared want. Nothing rushed. Nothing forbidden. Just the two of them learning each other in slow, careful pieces.
The quiet stretched, not awkward, not loaded, but peaceful.
And when the door eventually clicked open hours later, sunlight spilling in, Elena's cheerful "We're home!" was met with two guilty flinches and one very awkward scramble from the couch.
Ariana's face went crimson. Levi nearly fell off the couch.
Miguel's sigh was long. Layered. Too knowing.
But he only said, "Hope you two rested," in a tone that suggested he absolutely knew they hadn't done much resting.
Ariana buried her face in Levi's shoulder.
"We're moving out," she whispered.
"Today," Levi agreed.
-----
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. It was a cute one from my perspective.
And hopefully I did a good job on the characters that their actions and such fit everything till now.
Anyway, I had fun writing this chapter, and I hope you guys had fun reading this one.
Stay safe!