The room of the gas station was quiet except for their breathing.
Six months.
It had been six months since Miguel and Elena Rodriguez were murdered in the street. Six months since Abby Stevens' psychotic break had shattered whatever fragile safety they'd built. Six months since Levi had killed someone and felt nothing but grim satisfaction.
But right now, in this moment, with dawn barely touching the world above and Ariana sleeping peacefully against him, Levi let himself pretend none of that existed.
Her face was inches from his, close enough that he could count her eyelashes if he wanted. Close enough to see the tiny movements behind her closed lids as she dreamed- twitching, flickering, her face making micro-expressions that told stories he couldn't read.
Beautiful.
She was so damn beautiful it hurt.
Her hair had grown longer, dark curls spreading across the pillow and his arm where it was tucked beneath her. The scar on her side, hidden by the blanket, had healed to a thin pink line. His shoulder had long since healed completely, another impossibly fast recovery that should have taken months.
But his hair… Levi didn't need a mirror to know. More gray threaded through the black now, silver spreading from his temples like frost. He looked like one of those cartoon protagonists, or anime, as one of his friends used to say, rather than a 40-year-old man.
He didn't care.
Not when Ariana was here, warm and alive and his.
Levi's hand moved almost without conscious thought, his palm cupping her cheek with a gentleness that still surprised him sometimes. His thumb traced the curve of her cheekbone, the softness of her skin, committing every detail to memory like his brain was terrified of forgetting.
Remember this, something whispered in his mind. Remember her exactly as she is right now.
Unable to stop himself, Levi leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Feather-soft, barely there, afraid to wake her but needing the contact more than his next breath.
She didn't wake.
His hand moved to her hair, fingers threading through the dark curls, brushing them back from her face. The motion was soothing, meditative. Something he did when he needed to ground himself, to remember what was real and worth protecting.
Another kiss, just as gentle. Her lips curved under his, and Levi's heart stuttered.
She was awake.
Ariana's eyes opened slowly, and Levi fell in love all over again. Those dark eyes, warm with sleep and affection, focused on him with an intensity that made everything else fade away.
"Morning," she murmured, her voice rough and perfect.
"Morning," he whispered back, his hand still cradling her face, still threading through her hair.
She caught his other hand, the one on her cheek, and brought it to her lips, pressing a kiss to his palm that sent warmth flooding through him. Then she leaned forward and kissed him properly, slow and deep and unhurried.
When they broke apart, Levi sighed dramatically, his nose wrinkling. "You need to brush your teeth."
Ariana's eyes narrowed, sleep gone. "Excuse me?"
"I'm just saying, querida, your morning breath could knock out a-"
She moved fast, using the element of surprise to flip their positions. Suddenly, Levi was on his back and Ariana was straddling him, pinning his hands above his head with a strength that shouldn't have been surprising after six months of survival but still was.
"What was that?" she asked sweetly, her face inches from his. "I didn't quite hear you."
"I said," Levi couldn't stop grinning, "that your breath is delightful. Like roses and sunshine and-"
She kissed him, cutting off his words. Not gentle this time. Demanding. Her teeth caught his bottom lip, tugging slightly before releasing. "Punishment," she murmured against his mouth, "for lying."
"I wasn't lying about the bad breath part," he tried to say, but she kissed him again.
And again.
And again, until he forgot what they were even arguing about.
Her hands released his, moving to frame his face as she deepened the kiss. Levi's hands found her waist, sliding under her shirt to touch warm skin, feeling her shiver at the contact.
"Ari," he breathed between kisses.
"Hmm?"
"We should probably-"
"Probably what?" She was kissing down his jaw now, his neck, finding all the spots that made his brain short-circuit.
"Get up. Make breakfast. Do… things…"
"Things can wait." She bit gently at his pulse point, and Levi's grip on her waist tightened.
"Yeah," he agreed, already lost. "Things can definitely wait."
They eventually made it out of bed, though it took significantly longer than either of them had planned. Ariana was wrapped in one of Levi's shirts, just the perfect size on her, and a pair of sweatpants, while he'd pulled on teenage-sized joggings and nothing else.
The gas station's small kitchen was barely functional, but they'd learned to work with it. Ariana was at the stove, scrambling eggs in a pan they'd scavenged from the diner without anyone knowing. Levi was behind her, supposedly making coffee but mostly just being a distraction.
Their table was small- just two chairs- but it was theirs. Levi set out plates, forks, and the tin cups they used for coffee. Simple. Domestic. Normal.
Ariana brought over the pan, dividing the eggs between their plates. "We're almost out of salt," she noted. "I'll need to check with Donna about supplies."
"I'll come with you." Levi sat, pulling his chair closer to hers out of habit. They always sat close now. Always within touching distance.
"You don't have to."
"I know." He reached for her hand, threading their fingers together. "But I want to."
They ate in comfortable silence, the kind that came from knowing someone so well that words weren't always necessary. Ariana's foot hooked around his under the table. Levi's thumb traced circles on the back of her hand.
Halfway through breakfast, Ariana caught him staring at her again.
"What?" she asked, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Nothing. Just… you have egg on your face."
"I do not-" She reached up to wipe her mouth, and Levi leaned to kiss her instead.
"Liar," she murmured against his lips. "There was no egg."
"No," he admitted. "But I wanted to kiss you."
"You always want to kiss me."
"Guilty."
She pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. "Good thing I always want to kiss you, too."
The kiss deepened, and Levi was suddenly very aware that she was only wearing his shirt, that they were alone, that the bed was only twenty feet away…
"Levi," Ariana laughed, breaking away. "We need to stop or we'll never have things done."
"Would that be so bad?"
"We just finished doing it twice this morning, and now, we need to do things. And-" She stood, taking their plates to the small sink. "And I need to shower before I do any of that."
Levi stood too, moving behind her at the sink. His hands found her waist again, pulling her back against his chest. "I could join you," he murmured into her hair. "Help you conserve water."
"We have plenty of water."
"Help you conserve soap?"
"Levi…" But she was laughing, tilting her head to give him better access as he kissed her neck, and a lick that sent shivers down her spine.
"Help you conserve time?"
"That," she turned in his arms, "is the worst excuse I've ever heard."
"But you're not saying no."
"No," she agreed, pulling him toward the small bathroom. "I'm definitely not saying no, and I definitely should have let the beast sleep this morning."
The walk into town was familiar now, a route they'd taken hundreds of times. Levi walked with his hand loosely holding Ariana's, the other resting on the mace that he was always carrying with him, now a habit, instinct, survival. Even in daylight, neither of them went anywhere unarmed.
The town looked the same as always. Too quiet. Too still. Like a stage set waiting for actors who would never come.
They passed the diner first, where a handful of people sat at tables through the window. Someone was behind the counter, organizing something.
"Salt first?" Ariana asked.
"Yeah. Then eggs."
They walked toward Colony House, the large Victorian structure that housed multiple people who'd have orgies once in a while. When the news first hit them, both Levi and Ariana muttered a 'disgusting' under their breath.
But another issue was the lack of safety. Levi wasn't sure what Donna was thinking, putting that many people together. She wouldn't be able to supervise everyone, and now that the smiling creatures were whispering sweet promises instead of screeching, someone would slip up and leading to all of them being torn apart and killed.
The porch steps creaked under their weight. Inside, they could hear voices—multiple people, a small gathering. Levi's jaw tightened automatically.
"We can come back later," he offered quietly.
"We need the salt," Ariana reminded him. "We'll be quick."
The front door was unlocked; it always was during the day. Inside, the main room had been converted into a common area. A few residents looked up as they entered, expressions ranging from curious to wary.
A woman Levi recognized but didn't know by name approached. She was older than him, maybe mid-thirties, with gray hair tied back severely. "Can I help you?"
Donna's voice drifted down the stairs before she did, worn but warm, the voice of someone who had seen too much and still insisted on trying. When she reached the bottom step, she gave them the smallest smile, relief mixed with something like fondness. "What brings you two here?"
"Salt," Ariana answered. "We're running low."
Donna nodded. "Kitchen's stocked. Take what you need." She stepped aside and gestured toward the hall. "You might have to dodge the breakfast crowd. They're… chatty today."
Levi and Ariana exchanged a look. "Chatty" at Colony House usually meant someone trying to rope them into small talk about relationships, stress, or other topics neither of them had the energy for.
They stepped around the corner, Levi keeping a hand on Ariana's lower back, guiding without crowding, instinctively protective even in daylight. A few heads turned their way. Not suspicious, curious. Studying them. Whispering.
"The ones that still hide in holes," one whispered.
Ariana ignored the looks with practiced ease. She walked to the pantry shelves, reaching for a jar of salt. Donna lingered near the doorway as if waiting until they were alone enough to speak. When they approached, she folded her arms.
"Are you alright living at the station?" Donna asked in concern, the same question she had asked a couple of months ago, her voice always soft with them. "It's far from the others. If something happens-"
"We're fine," Levi said before Ariana could answer. "I've worked on some things around the area to make sure we've always got options in case of emergency."
Ariana nodded, backing him. "It's better there. Quieter."
Donna's eyes softened for both of them, a smile on her face, one of pity or sorrow, Levi couldn't differentiate. She studied them both, the concern in her eyes unmistakable. But she didn't argue. "Just… be careful. Both of you."
"We will," Ariana said.
They turned to leave, stepping back into the main room. A few more residents had gathered, laughing, sharing homemade biscuits, passing around mugs of weak coffee. It should have felt comforting.
It didn't. Ever since Abby's shooting, he could only see people who could potentially harm Ariana, making him tense. His woman, sensing her man's distress, slowly for a moment, took his hand into hers.
Movement in the back hallway caught his eye. Ellis emerged, carrying a box of canned goods. Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither moved. The air in the room went taut.
Six months hadn't healed what had broken between them. Ellis's mother was still dead. Ariana's parents were still murdered. The fight in front of the diner had drawn blood and settled nothing.
Ellis's jaw clenched. His hands tightened on the box.
Levi held his gaze, unflinching. Not aggressive, but not apologetic either.
Then Ellis turned deliberately, walking back the way he'd come without a word.
"Let's go," Ariana whispered.
They left without further conversation, the weight of everyone's eyes following them out.
On the porch, Ariana released a breath she'd been holding. "That could have gone worse."
"Yeah." Levi kissed her hand, the action grounding. "At least nobody threw anything this time." He muttered, remembering their last visit, three months ago.
She smiled despite herself. "Low bar, but I'll take it."
The barn sat at the edge of the residential area, converted over the past months into a proper livestock shelter. The animals Boyd had found, chickens, goats, and a few sheep, had multiplied. Not enough to feed everyone regularly, but enough to supplement their dwindling supplies.
A woman Levi recognized but didn't know by name was inside, scattering feed for the chickens. She looked up as they entered, her expression shifting from neutral to guarded. People always attempted to steal animals or food from the barn until Boyd caught them and reprimanded them.
"Morning," Levi said, keeping his voice even, non-threatening.
"Morning." She didn't smile. Didn't offer conversation. Just watched them with the wariness people reserved for things they didn't quite trust.
"Just here for eggs," Ariana added, moving toward the nesting boxes. "Father Khutri said we could take some."
"That's fine." The woman went back to her work, but Levi could feel her eyes tracking them anyway.
They collected the eggs in silence, Ariana handling them carefully while Levi held the small basket they'd brought. The chickens clucked and rustled, oblivious to the tension in the room.
"Thank you," Ariana said as they left, receiving only a grunt in response.
They spent the rest of the afternoon reinforcing one of the hidden emergency exits from their bunker, the one that led toward the forest. Levi dug while Ariana passed him tools, both of them falling into the comfortable rhythm of work they'd perfected over months.
"Hand me the-"
She passed him the mallet before he finished.
"Thanks. Now I need-"
The box of nails appeared beside his hand.
"You're getting scary good at that," Levi said, not looking up but smiling.
"Or you're just predictable."
"Ouch."
She laughed, the sound bright and genuine. Those laughs came easier now than they had in the early months. The grief was still there- would always be there= but it had settled into something they could live alongside.
When the sun started its descent, they cleaned up and walked toward the cemetery.
Miguel and Elena Rodriguez's graves sat side by side near the edge of the makeshift cemetery. Someone had placed stones on top, a tradition Ariana had started, adding a new one each time they visited.
Levi and Ariana stood before the graves, holding hands, neither speaking immediately. This was routine now. Part of their rhythm. Like making breakfast or checking the perimeter, or sleeping in each other's arms.
Ariana knelt first, brushing away some leaves that had accumulated on her mother's grave. "Hi, Mamá. Hi, Papá."
Levi knelt beside her, placing his hand on Miguel's grave. "Hey."
"We're doing okay," Ariana continued, her voice steady. "Still at the gas station. Still hiding in the hole every night. Still…" She paused, searching for words. "Still here."
"We got the chickens to lay more eggs," Levi added, feeling slightly ridiculous talking to dirt but doing it anyway. "Got some salt today. Ariana's getting better at rationing our own supplies. Learned that from you, Elena."
Ariana squeezed his hand. "Levi's Spanish is almost fluent now. You'd be proud, Papá. Though his accent still needs work."
"My accent is perfecto," Levi protested mildly.
"It really isn't." But she was smiling.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, just being present. The grief didn't overwhelm anymore, didn't drag them under like it had in the early weeks. It was just… there. Part of them. Part of this place.
"We miss you," Ariana said finally, standing and pulling Levi up with her. "We'll be back again tomorrow."
As they walked away, Levi glanced back once at the graves, at the stones marking where two good people had been buried too soon.
I'm still taking care of her, he thought. Like I promised.
The diner was busier in the evening, and people gathered for a communal dinner. The smell of cooking pasta filled the air. Someone had come to this nightmare after their month of groceries, enough food to feed people for months if rationed correctly.
Levi and Ariana joined the line, keeping to themselves. A few people nodded in greeting. Most just ignored them. That was fine. They'd learned to exist on the edges, neither fully part of the community nor completely separate.
The lady behind the counter served them personally, ladling generous portions into their containers. "Fresh bread too," she said, adding a small loaf wrapped in cloth. "Don't tell anyone I gave you extra."
"Thank you," Ariana said, genuinely grateful.
The woman's expression softened slightly. "You two doing okay?"
"Yeah," Levi answered, not bothering to remember her name or anyone's name for that matter after the shooting. He didn't care for them anymore. But Ariana was different. Instead of shutting down, she had instead helped people, mostly newcomers.
The lady behind the counter being one of them.
"We're good."
She nodded, something approving in her eyes. "Good. Stay that way."
They took their food and left, walking back to the gas station as the sun touched the horizon. Pink and orange light painted the sky, beautiful and wrong like everything else here.
They ate at their small table, twirling pasta around forks, the bread warm and filling in a way that felt almost luxurious. The lantern between them cast gentle shadows, making the space feel intimate, protected.
"This is good," Ariana said, savoring a bite. "Really good."
"She outdid herself." Levi reached across to wipe a bit of sauce from the corner of her mouth that she purposefully left behind with his thumb. "Though you're still messy."
"And you're still annoying." She caught his hand, pressed a kiss to his palm.
After dinner, they cleaned up together, washing dishes in their small sink, putting away the leftover bread, and tidying the space that had become their home, before hiding in the hole underneath the gas station. Every movement was synchronized, practiced, and easy.
When they were perfectly hidden, Ariana pulled Levi to the couch, an old thing they'd dragged in months ago, worn but comfortable. They were tired of sitting on the floor. She curled against his side, her head on his chest, his arm around her shoulders.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked quietly, tracing patterns on his shirt.
"Nothing important." He pressed a kiss to her hair. "Just… this. Us."
"Good thoughts or bad thoughts?"
"Good." His hand moved to her hair, threading through the curls in that soothing motion he'd perfected. "Always good when it's about us."
She tilted her head up to look at him. "Even here? Even in this place?"
"Especially here." He kissed her forehead, her nose, her eyelids, and finally, her lips. She loved it when he did it, showering her with kisses. "This place tried to break us. But we're still here. Still together. That's… that's everything."
"I love you." He finished, and Ariana smiled, turning to fully face him. Ariana's eyes shimmered slightly, but she smiled. "Te amo dos."
They stayed like that as the light faded outside, just holding each other, stealing these quiet moments. Levi's hand never stopped moving through her hair. Ariana's fingers never stopped tracing patterns on his chest.
As they settled in for the night, Ariana in Levi's arms, both of them listening for the first sounds of the hunt above, Levi rested his head on her shoulders, her hair covering his face. Then they heard it, a screech.
SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
But unlike six months ago, filled with warning and their appearances, this screech was filled with frustration, anger, and annoyance.
Levi and Ariana smiled knowingly. "Which one do you think it was?"
"Hmm, it sounded far, so maybe by the school building?" Ariana whispered back.
"We'll check for it tomorrow."
---
AN: Yeeelllo hello.
Hope all of you are doing well and have enjoyed the longer chapter. Let me know how I'm doing so far, because, you know, I like praises and they make me happy.
So happy that I might upload another chapter. But what I like even more is powerstones and praises.
Though I have a question for you guys. Am I going to far with their lovey-dovey moments or it balances out everything else?
PS: Added the R18 tags just for exposure. While its not a complete NFSW read, it's pretty close and if you think hand holding is lewd, then its R18
:D